Top Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal is currently battling arthritis and is facing a challenging phase in her career. The 34-year-old former World Champion has revealed that she plans to make a decision regarding her future in badminton by the end of this year. Saina, who has represented India in three Olympic Games, won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. She mentioned that she is not too concerned about her career coming to an end, acknowledging that her knees are not in great shape, with arthritis weakening her cartilage. Practicing for 8-9 hours has become extremely difficult, she said during an interview on the "House of Glory" podcast by shooter Gagan Narang. 🎙️
Gagan Narang asked Saina how she manages to compete against top players while dealing with arthritis. She responded by stating that at some point, one has to accept the reality. She also pointed out that two hours of training is not enough to compete against top players. While retirement might impact her, she emphasized that she would have to make a decision soon. Saina last competed in the Singapore Open last year but exited in the first round. 🏆
Reflecting on her long career, Saina mentioned that she started playing badminton at the age of 9 and will turn 35 next year. She expressed how she has had a very long career in the sport. Playing in the Olympics was her childhood dream, but missing out on the last two events has been painful for her. 🌟
