A heavy decision, but a much-needed one: Saina Nehwal on retirement

Badminton has been such a big part of my life. It feels unreal that I won’t be playing it anymore,” says Saina Nehwal, who announced her retirement recently. Saina, who was in Ahmedabad for an event, speaks about post-retirement plans and more. ‘No point continuing if you can’t give your 100 per cent’ The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist last played a competitive match in 2023 and was advised rest due to a chronic knee condition and arthritis, which caused severe cartilage degeneration. Saina shares, “Sometimes, you don’t believe that you have left the game because you have played it for so many years, and it’s just part of you now. So, you just feel that you are still in that moment, and you relive all those moments which you have worked hard for and trained for for so many years. But there are always some happy moments, and then there are moments that make you pause, like when I got arthritis in my knee. My doctor told me, ‘It’s a little tough to push; you can try and manage.’ But I didn’t feel like ‘managing’ it because you have to push to get 100 per cent results. You have been in the top 10 for 12-13 years, and you don’t want to play in a way where you can’t give your 100 per cent.” She adds, “It was a heavy decision, but a much-needed one. Every player goes through this, dealing with injuries and taking such calls, like Roger Federer did too. We try till the end. But there are no regrets; I have tried everything, and it’s been a fabulous journey.” ‘Players are getting injured a lot more now’ Saina, who began playing at 12, says, “Today, players are more confident and informed. They have access to immense knowledge through social media and online videos and can closely follow how top athletes train. They are surrounded by great role models, including the current top players of the Indian team. In badminton, they now have top coaches from different countries guiding them. In my time, we had only Pullela Gopichand sir. When the game started growing around 2010–11, we would get a new coach every two or three years, but today, a top 25 player often has a dedicated coach, which is a big advantage. Players now have trainers, physiotherapists, and mental trainers too. I got my first physio at 19—by then, I had already played the Olympics, won the World Juniors and entered the top 40.” She adds, “I feel players today aren’t as bodily strong as those from earlier eras, and it applies to players from all countries. Not only Indian players, but also Chinese and Thai players are getting injured a lot more. So, this generation probably needs to work more with trainers and get physically strong. After that, on-court training becomes very easy. An Se-young, for instance, is managing her injuries well, and she is winning a lot. But in the men’s category, you do not have one player who is winning everything, so there are some niggles. However, mentally, I think this generation is fantastic, and they have all the knowledge. If they focus and push a little harder, I am sure the results will come.” ‘Don’t think badminton needs me as a coach right now’ Will she get into coaching? Saina says, “We already have the best coaches. I don’t think there is a need for me to step in right now; the players are well taken care of by some top Indian as well as foreign coaches. Also, the 25 years I gave to the sport were extremely demanding, mentally and physically. I entered the Indian team at just 12–13, when most players do so at 18–19, and played till I was 34. Training eight to nine hours every day has taken a huge toll on my body. People think we are very fit, but the reality is different. If we stop exercising, the pain starts.” She adds, “Mentally too, it plays a huge role because every day, you live under stress and pressure—will my training go well, how will I perform, what about contracts, will there be job security, what about money? As I grew older, I realised how much money matters. Badminton is a risky sport—leagues start and stop, and every year, you face doubts about your future, performance, and ability. In India, you have to prove yourself repeatedly; playing quarters or semis is not enough to stay in the news—you have to keep winning. From 2006 to 2017–18, I was fortunate to deliver consistent results. Today, players like (PV) Sindhu or Lakshya (Sen) are noticed only when they win. At that level, competition is so intense that even in sleep, you think about matches, losses and self-doubt. Yet, the next day you show up and train again because you want to fight. Sport is challenging—that is what makes a player. You fall, you rise, you feel happy, you cry, and you start again. Playing with these emotions every day breaks you mentally, which is why you need rest. Maybe in the future, when I feel fresh again, I might step into coaching, but I would always like to stay connected with badminton and motivate youngsters.” ‘Feel busier than my playing days’ Talking about post-retirement life, Saina shares, “I am doing a lot of motivational talks in schools, colleges and IT companies. I am also busy with shoots with my sponsors and always talking about badminton or some aspects of my life. I feel busier than my playing days now (smiles), especially since the last two years, as I have been attending so many events. It’s good to see people respecting players who have achieved so much for India.” She adds, “I spend leisure time watching comedy shows like Kapil Sharma’s or some series, but mostly, we travel whenever I am free. My parents haven’t enjoyed their lives at all, as they were continuously with me during my career; my stress was their stress. Now that I have the time and resources, I take them on trips and vacations. I want to take them around the world.” ‘We need structured funding for top 150 players’ Talking about sports infrastructure in India, Saina shares, “We really have great facilities now, and government support for top players is fantastic. But my concern is what happens after the top 25. In badminton, foundations are supporting national champions, but players ranked between 50 and 150 are equally talented and need time to grow. Some succeed in a year, while some may take five years. I feel there should be structured funding for the top 150 players for at least three to four years so their performance can be evaluated, and they don’t constantly worry about their future. Today, many young players and their parents are anxious about job security and finances, which is why so many talented athletes quit the sport. Training is expensive—nutrition, equipment, travel, coaches—and for middle-class families, it is very difficult to afford. I think sponsors should work closely with academies and coaches to identify promising players early and support them for a few years. Even if support is withdrawn later, that is fair, but some level of security and parallel education is essential so that players can give their 100% without fear. That missing support system is why we lose out on so many potential champions.” She adds, "I have high hopes for women’s sports in India. Almost everywhere, women are winning more medals than men, including the Olympics. Our women athletes have a lot of self-belief, and they are confident about winning against the best. We’re doing great as a country, but I still wish we achieved more in sports. I want us to win more medals, and if we are aiming to host the 2036 Olympics, we should also aim to top the medal tally—to be number one and challenge countries like China, Australia and the US."Saina, who is very active on social media these days, shares, "I enjoy posting photos and videos on social media; it is like entertainment for me. I wasn’t exposed to this world earlier and have started exploring it very recently. But I am doing all this only when I have achieved something in my life and it won’t distract me, which is something that today’s generation needs to learn."