India’s top badminton player and former Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal has revealed that she is suffering from arthritis and will have to decide about her future in the sport by the end of this year as the ailment has made it difficult for her to practice like normal.
34-year-old Nehwal, a former world number one, won a bronze medal at the London Olympics 2012. A three-time Olympian, Nehwal became the first Indian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympics. The Commonwealth Games 2010 and 2018 gold medallist said she can no longer ignore the fact that her career is in its final stages.
In the ‘House of Glory’ podcast of veteran shooter and leader of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics, Gagan Narang, Nehwal said, “My knee condition is not good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has deteriorated. In such a situation, it is very difficult to stay connected with the game for eight-nine hours. “He said, “In such a situation, how will you challenge the best players in the world. I have to accept this at some level because two hours of practice is not enough to get the desired results against the top players. “
Nehwal said she was still considering how retirement would affect her but acknowledged that she would eventually have to make a decision. She is also a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She last played a tournament more than a year ago at the Singapore Open, where she was knocked out in the opening round. She said, “I am thinking of retiring. It will be painful because it is like a common man’s job. Obviously, a player’s career is always short. I started at the age of nine. I will be 35 next year. “
Nehwal said, “I have also had a long career and I am proud of it. I am happy with whatever I have achieved. I will assess how I am feeling by the end of this year.” The Padma Shri awardee said that playing in the Olympics was her childhood dream and it was sad not to be able to participate in two consecutive Olympic Games.
Nehwal said, “Playing in the Olympics is everyone’s childhood dream. You prepare for years to reach that level. So, sometimes when you realize that you will not be able to achieve it, it hurts a lot.” She said, “I have worked very hard. I participated in three Olympics. I gave my 100 percent in all of them. I can be proud of this and be happy with it.
