Saina Nehwal quashes retirement rumours
(Courtesy : @nehwalsaina/Instagram)
The veteran last participated at the BWF Singapore Open.
Saina Nehwal, bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics, has firmly dismissed rumors regarding her retirement. The star shuttler has faced significant challenges in maintaining optimum fitness due to a series of injuries, primarily a persistent knee issue, as well as other health concerns.
The former world championship medalist was asked about her retirement to which she replied to PTI, “Everyone has to retire, there is no deadline. But at the moment, I am trying. As a sportsperson, it’s my duty to try because I love the game.”
Consequently, her participation in BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Tour events has been inconsistent this season. Compounded by these issues, her world ranking has dropped to 55 in the latest rankings released by BWF.
The former World No. 1, last competed in the Singapore Open in June this year. This marked her sixth tournament participation this season. Regrettably, she achieved only one quarter-final finish out of the 14 events in 2022. Additionally, her most notable performance in 2021 consisted of a semi-final finish at the esteemed Orleans Masters, out of a total of eight events.
Saina Nehwal, who has achieved the esteemed title of two-time world champion, most recently emerged victorious in January 2019 at the prestigious Malaysia Masters. Although she has encountered persistent knee complications, she has also encountered challenges pertaining to her groin and ankle. Also, she has previously been diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis coupled with mild pancreatitis.
In addition to expressing optimism about HS Prannoy's prospects of winning a medal in Hangzhou, China, at the world championships, Saina also highlighted the deficiency in the overall skill set of the younger generation of women's singles players, stating that it hampers their success at the international level.
“Badminton is one of the toughest sports in the world physically. You need to be 100 percent fit throughout the year to play 17 to 20 tournaments in a year. Sindhu and I were gifted, we were natural retrievers on the court and we had an attacking game as well. But other players as far as I am watching the matches, they lack a few things. It is not easy to play at the highest level unless you have an all-round game. We are lacking somewhere here and there”, she added
Gourav has over six years of experience in journalism, where he has worked for various national and regional media houses. With a keen liking for Cricket and Football, he also knows a few other games.