Picture Credit: X
Star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal finally opened up on her struggles as she battles arthritis. Nehwal who is yet to announce retirement from competitive career, has been out of action since a long time with her ongoing struggles with arthritis. The 34-year-old former World No. 1 also spoke of limiting her capability to train due to the struggles and thus might even consider retirement.
The former World No. 1, who was last seen in competitive action in the Singapore Open last year, said that she will decide in her retirement by the end of this year. Speaking with India’s Chef de Mission at the Paris Olympics 2024 and Olympics bronze medallist also added that she will have to accept it somewhere, and maybe it might be the time.
I am also thinking about it: Saina Nehwal on her retirement
Speaking in the House of Glory podcast by Gagan Narang, Nehwal accepted that her knee is “not good” and it has become difficult to train for hours. “The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours,” Nehwal revealed. “How will you challenge the best players in the world in such a state? I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results,” she added.
Although the 34-year-old did not disclose anything on her retirement but continued, “I am also thinking about it (retiement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson’s career is always a short one. I started at the age of 9. I will be 35 next year.”
“I have also had a long career, and I am very proud of that. I have broken my body to a great extent. I am happy with what I have done and given it all. (I) will assess how I feel by the end of this year,” Saina reiterated.
Nehwal during her playing days became the first-ever Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton. She won a bronze medal in the women’s singles category at the London Olympics 2012. The star shuttler, who is also a Padma Shri awardee, has won two gold medals in Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2018 respectively.
