It’s been two years since India’s women’s badminton star Saina Nehwal retired, but still, she remains a strong voice even today. The former World No. 1 and Olympic bronze medalist had recently spoken about her journey as a badminton champion.
In conversation with The Bridge during The Legends Vision Legacy India Tour, Sania discussed India’s growth in the sport of badminton, her retirement, and what it takes to become a world-class player.
She said, “India is definitely improving, but till now, I will not say it is a sporting nation. We are targeting the 2036 Olympics. I hope by then we can win many medals. In badminton, we are close to the powerhouses because our results keep coming. But other sports also need continuous success, wrestling, boxing, shooting, squash, and tennis. In the next decade, India can become a great sporting nation and compete with China, the USA, and Australia. We have the capability and the talent, so why not in every sport?”
Further sharing about her life post-retirement, Saina says a health condition got the best of her that forced her to leave behind a 23-year career in badminton.
She said, “You want to be in that pressure, stress moment always because you have played matches throughout your career. You have been in the sport for 23 years. You want to be in that zone always. But you know that your body is not going to take it anymore.
I got arthritis, cartilage degenerated completely, and the doctor told me, ‘You are not a machine, you are a human being’. So there came a point where I had to leave the sport because of my knee. The first year was difficult because you want to get up in the morning, go for training, and suddenly you are resting.”
Sania says that every new generation of players is expected to follow the path and carry the legacy of their seniors who have established their careers in the span of 15 years. But she feels the newcomers should be given time to grow their careers in their own way.
She added, “When I was playing, there was a group of us, including PV Sindhu, Srikanth, Prannoy, Kashyap, Sai, Guru, and Ajay. We were on the circuit for 10-15 years. We were always there. People expect the next batch to be the same, but we should give them time.”
The former Badminton player recently judged Miss Universe 2025, and she also shared her experience in the interview, saying what the new opportunity meant for her beyond the world of sports. But for Saina, Badminton is and will always be above everything.
She mentioned, “Badminton will always be my first love; I can never stay away from it. My mind will always choose badminton, but the girl in me enjoys trying different dresses and feeling good sometimes.
Recently, judging the Miss Universe title was a huge experience; it allowed me to see the other side of the world. But badminton is number one, always.”
(Inputs sourced from The Bridge)
