Saina Nehwal chuckled when asked if the 3×15 scoring system, set to come into force from January 2027, could tempt her to return to the badminton court.

In theory, Saina, at least at her peak, would have revelled in this abridged format. Her natural attacking flair, speed and ability to close out games would have made her a neat fit.

While this could make for a good debate over coffee, the reality is quite different. At 36, and having gone through the intense grind of the professional tour for nearly two decades, Saina is unable to meet the physical demands of the sport.

“I wish I could come back, but I have total cartilage damage,” she said during a virtual interaction. “My knee is in a seriously bad shape. I cannot push for more than half an hour. But yes, I really do want to play.”

Saina believes that her contemporary P.V. Sindhu will benefit from the new rules. Sindhu, 31, maybe in the final stages of her career, but has plenty of fight left. In July, the double Olympic medallist served a reminder of her class by becoming the first Indian to win the Japan Open.

Merits and demerits

“The good thing is that Sindhu has the best physiotherapist and trainer. This is really helpful. Her court movement is very good,” Saina observed.

“From next year, when the points system shifts to 3×15, matches will get shorter. You will get a lot of recovery time between fixtures. There are big breaks between Super 1000 tournaments too, which guarantees good rest periods.

“Careers will extend longer because the matches are shorter. Any player can win tournaments in that scenario,” the two-time World championships medallist added.

Saina, the first Indian woman to reach the summit in the World rankings, added a note of caution regarding training regimens.

“The new scoring system will tilt the game towards power and speed. But when you train for power and speed, chances of getting injured are higher. If Sindhu can take care to avoid injuries, she can play for a long time,” she opined.

Looking at the talent that has emerged after Saina and Sindhu, there remains a gap in quality. The likes of Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma have registered some impressive wins, but are not yet world-beaters in the class of their seniors.

“In terms of attitude and skill, Tanvi and Unnati have a very bright future. They have gained experience and produced results. Devika [Sihag] and the other players need to improve a bit more.

“There are challenges – how do you make a comeback from a loss? How much do you train on a regular basis? Are you ready to push yourself and not give up? As far as I have seen, Tanvi and Unnati don’t give up. They keep fighting. They have the best coaches too. Tanvi is training under Park [Tae-sang], while Unnati is training with her father,” Saina stated.

As for the best in the world, Saina rates 2024 Paris Olympics gold medallist An Se-young as a “once in a generation” player. She had taken on the South Korean when the latter was a promising youngster, sharing the spoils with a 1-1 head-to-head record.

“An can rally very well, and the improvement now is that she dives well to pick up shots. She has also improved the speed of strokes. She is not the fastest player, but she has fast strokes and her court coverage is very smooth,” Saina said.

And then there is the 24-year-old’s intense drive – a trait Saina views as key.

“Even after having won the Olympic gold and so many titles, you can still see that hunger to win. When she lost recently, you saw her crying. A player with that sort of desire is tough to defeat.”

Against the odds

The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist is of the opinion that with cricket taking centrestage in India, athletes in other sports must stay at an elite level to gain recognition.

“In India, the problem is that if you perform in any sport apart from cricket, you don’t get much importance unless you win tournaments. Tanvi and Unnati have won tournaments, and that’s why everyone is talking about them. You have to show results and win consistently. That is when you get popular in this country.”

Saina, who is serving on the expert panel of Sony Sports Network for its coverage of the 2026 Asian Games, is hopeful that the hype around the Indian cricket teams will not overshadow other disciplines at the multi-sport extravaganza.

“I will be happy as long as medal winners from other sports are [also] celebrated. We expect the Indian cricket team to win medals at the Asian Games and the Olympics. But this could mean that medallists from other sports might feel bad if they don’t receive the same encouragement as the cricketers.

“I have a feeling that [even] if they (non-cricket sportspersons) win a gold medal, they will get sidelined. In that scenario, I will feel bad because only cricket gets the support,” Saina explained.

The Padma Bhushan awardee reflected on the challenges she faced during her playing career, especially when it came to getting the attention of the general public.

“I had to win multiple Super Series titles in a year to be there [in the spotlight]. Just one Super Series victory was not enough. I had the motivation to win an Olympic medal, and to become the World No. 1. The victories helped me appear in newspapers, and people started to notice me.”

Guts and glory

Her groundbreaking achievements were marked by self-improvement and dedication to the sport.

“I worked on improving myself every day – listening to my coaches, thinking about how to prepare for the next tournament, staying injury-free… I had big goals for myself, which is why I was able to win at Super Series events and the World championships,” Saina stated.

“Having said that, I also feel sad that after winning 24 international titles and an Olympic medal, many people confuse me with tennis player Sania Mirza.

Full of potential: Saina credits Unnati Hooda, India’s second highest-ranked women’s singles player after Sindhu, for having the requisite skills and right attitude
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

“I am sure that about 70 to 80% of girls in India do not know anything about the world of sports. We have to find out how we can promote sports. I am not against cricket, but other sports cann ever overtake cricket unless athletes keep winning at the highest level.”

Saina emphasised the role of a stable support system, starting with good parenting.

“To win even a couple of Super Series tournaments is very, very challenging for Indian players. If there is no financial support, we should not expect to win a single title.

“When my parents took the risk to support my badminton dreams, they did not think much about the great financial rewards I may get. They just wholeheartedly supported me, and luckily I could come back with so many good results. But how many parents can do this? It’s not that easy.”

Former world No. 1 shuttler and Olympics medallist Saina Nehwal on Saturday (August 15, 2026) said featuring among top nations in medals tally would be the real metric of calling India a “sporting nation”, amid the push to host global competitions in Mumbai.

Saina said while the scenario has changed in sports, especially for women in the country, there still is a lot to be done.

“We are trying (to host) Olympics or big tournaments but I think one thing we have to make sure is that we are in top of the medal tally as well and that is when we can call ourselves a sporting nation,” Nehwal said during an inter-collegiate festival ‘Malhar’, hosted by the St Xavier’s College.

Saina said female sportspersons in the country have realised their potential and there has been a huge change in the last decade or so.

“Somewhere women are realizing that we are capable, we can do well,” Nehwal said.

“Last 15-20 years, I can see huge change in sports especially because I keep looking at matches and I keep seeing that, especially lot of girls from Haryana, they are doing extremely well in sports and wrestling, boxing, badminton is coming up.”

“I just want it to happen throughout the country so that we can be called as sporting nation in the future,” she said.

Nehwal exhorted for a system where young athletes across sports get adequate financial backing right from the beginning.

“It’s not about men or women, it’s about giving your best because in sports it’s not very easy to earn money. You feel, what’s going to happen in sports? Unless you reach in top 15 or top 20, you won’t even get good sponsorships (or) good funding,” Saina said.

“It’s not like cricket… still you have to improve a lot more but if you are consistent, if you are performing well, of course you will get all kind of sponsorships but not many players are like so talented.”

“Sometimes the results come a little late, sometimes the results are a little early but everyone is looking forward to the performances, and that becomes very challenging. So, unless we improve the promotions, marketing, sponsorships from really early age, that is when I think we can get many more players,” Nehwal said.

Nehwal said it is important for India to have not just efficient sporting infrastructure but also right coaching.

“… that is the problem in most of the sports that you don’t have psychologists, you don’t have proper trainers and proper physios,” Nehwal said.

“Now, from last 5-6 years, they have improved it but we need lot of psychologists, lot of mental trainers in our sports so that out of 10, at least six of them can perform. Otherwise, from your own will, from your own fighting attitude, there are only 2-3 people who can do well.” Nehwal said having financial security in other sports like cricket have would be a lot easier for sportspersons.

“… being in top 10 of the world and consistently being there, coming out of injuries, coming out of that same stress, there will be lot of people who will be trolling you,” Nehwal said.

“Very few will appreciate you but everyday taking that stress and being the best is not easy in sports. I think it can only change when you have lot more security like how it is in cricket.”

“At least when you play best in the world, you have that salary system, you have that job system and then you can take it as your profession. But other sports still are lacking behind it and that’s why many of them just lose the interest and they say that we don’t want to play.” Nehwal add, “But otherwise, training wise, there are so many kids who want to do perfect training and now the only difference can happen is good psychologist, good team and that is when you can produce lot more champions.”

Published – August 15, 2026 06:27 pm IST

The year was 2009. Denmark and Macau walked away from their bids to host the BWF World championships. The opportunity fell into India’s lap. Hyderabad had no clue at the time that it was about to stage the opening scene of a story that would take 17 years to finish telling.

In 2009, the country did not have the cast of characters to make a home World championships a triumph. Badminton had only flickered across the Indian imagination during Prakash Padukone’s All England title in 1980 and P. Gopi Chand’s echoing of it 21 years later — stray flares in a long darkness.

Humble beginnings

Saina Nehwal was the closest thing to a rising star. Aged 19 then, she had just become the first Indian woman to win the World junior championship and the first Indian to claim a Super Series title. The Olympic medal and No. 1 ranking were still years away. P.V. Sindhu was 14.

There was no Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) funding. Corporate India didn’t see a reason to cut a cheque. Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) was in its early stages.

ALSO READ | P.V. Sindhu: “Winning it on home soil, for the country, is all I could ask for”

Saina’s quarterfinal finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics caught the nation’s attention but the machinery beneath the sport hadn’t caught up to the moment. When the Worlds came to Hyderabad in 2009, the money just wasn’t there.

Gopi Chand himself went door to door, hat in hand, trying to talk India Inc. into caring. Yonex’s entire sponsorship contribution was around 200 boxes of shuttlecocks. Government support was barely a whisper. The multi-purpose Gachibowli indoor stadium became the stage, and the crew running it were young players — and sometimes their parents — pressed into service.

“We hosted a bunch of events in that period. Nationals [2004], Asian championships [2005], India Open [2008 and 2009], and the World championships, after which the Commonwealth Games infrastructure was created in Delhi. We had our challenges, but we hosted a grand event. People still talk about it in Hyderabad,” Gopi Chand recalled.

H.S. Prannoy, a volunteer in 2009, put the improbability of it more bluntly.

“Badminton wasn’t popular then, so people were hesitant to sponsor it. I remember hearing a lot about Gopi sir doing the rounds to ask for sponsorships. But I don’t think there was even one complaint about the event. To pull it off the way they did was spectacular,” he said.

“We were all there at that time as volunteers, helping arrange small things. But the one thing we all remember is that we got a chance to watch guys like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei up close — which, back then, was almost impossible! The confidence and motivation you get from seeing them live propelled me for the next couple of years.”

ALSO READ | Gopi Chand: “Horizons much bigger for the present players”

The tournament came off without a hitch. And yet India finished empty-handed, still stuck on the single bronze Padukone won in 1983.

Seventeen years later, the Worlds return to a country that no longer merely makes up the numbers. It now expects to be standing on the podium, and usually is. Fourteen medals have arrived in the years since, spread across every discipline but mixed doubles, crowned by Sindhu’s gold in 2019.

Ask what lit the fuse on all of it, Saina’s run at the 2008 Olympics and her bronze four years later in London take centre stage for many.

The spark

“Saina’s performance in 2008 was probably the spark, but the 2012 medal was what really changed things from a funding perspective. Before that, we used to think it was only the Indonesians and Chinese who could medal at these big events. When Saina won, everyone had hope that if she could win one, maybe we could too,” Prannoy said.

“I don’t think there’s been one singular turning point, honestly,” Gopi Chand differed. “My winning the All England was big. Without it, the idea of the academy and the belief that Indians could win at the highest stage wouldn’t have come. Then Saina’s win was the moment Indian women started to believe they could win.”

ALSO READ | Ayush Shetty: “I would like to set my own benchmark”

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa took the Worlds bronze in 2011, snapping a 28-year drought. A year later, Saina clinched India’s maiden Olympic medal in badminton. By 2015, she had topped the world rankings — the first Indian woman to do so — and claimed the country’s first Worlds silver. Sindhu then walked through the door that had been kicked open, and Indian badminton never looked back.

Lighting the fuse: Saina Nehwal inspired a generation, clinching India’s maiden Olympic badminton medal, topping the rankings and claiming the country’s first Worlds silver.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

But medals aren’t the only measure of evolution.

“In 2008, I remember tournaments being cancelled for lack of entries. Today, we hosted an Under-17 event with 4,200 entries at the national level. The sport now needs — and has — a much larger official setup,” Gopi Chand explained.

Ayush Shetty, one of India’s most promising young talents, has seen the winds change at the grassroots. “I didn’t have the support system a 14-year-old has now when I was that age. You have physios, trainers, and everything else now. Back in my day, I didn’t know much about recovery, it was all about working hard only.”

Corporate India slowly began embracing the sport. Money came, infrastructure followed.

Sindhu, now the face of badminton rather than a kid running around in the stands, points to a support system that simply didn’t exist for her predecessors. “OGQ has been backing me since I was 14, when I was still a junior and not even on the senior circuit. That kind of support in the starting stages is very important!”

“Now BAI has its own academy in Guwahati,” BAI general secretary Sanjay Mishra noted. “We have sponsors like Yonex [title sponsor of the 2026 edition]. In 2009, we had just four to five senior ranking tournaments. Now we have 30 to 32 tournaments a year across different levels. It’s a clear reflection of the sport’s popularity.”

Not every experiment survived the journey, though.

ALSO READ | “I’m not ready to give up the torch” – Prannoy isn’t planning to fade away just yet

The Indian Badminton League, later rebranded the Premier Badminton League, briefly turned the sport into a televised, commercial entity, only to buckle under the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, undone less by the lack of appetite than by a pile-up of logistics, an overcrowded international calendar, and commercial disagreements behind the scenes.

Fringe benefits: H.S. Prannoy cherishes his time as a volunteer at the 2009 Worlds. ‘Watching Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei up close propelled me for the next couple of years,’ he says.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

Government investment, however, firmed up and brought Indian badminton something 2009 never had: depth. Where the country once staked everything on a single Padukone- or Gopi Chand-shaped miracle, it now walks into a World championships with waves of match-winners. If the singles medal doesn’t come, the doubles might deliver instead.

The scale of change

That, more than anything, is the real distance between 2009 and 2026, and it has demanded 17 years of quiet, unglamorous institution-building. Real academies now stand where one man’s mortgaged house once did. A queue of contenders has replaced the single name carrying an entire nation’s hopes.

The real ambition now isn’t one champion every generation but ten players in contention at once, so that whoever wins, India wins.

Hyderabad asked the country to believe. Delhi is proof that it was right to.

Gopi Chand played his part in the rise of stars such as Kashyap, Srikanth and Sindhu.
| Photo Credit: File photo: Getty Images

Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal is back defending herself against social media trolls. Over the last month or so, the shuttler has been engaging in a tug of war with fans over various topics. Saina had made certain comments during the recently-concluded Paris Olympics that got her into a bit of trouble with fans on the internet. During a podcast, Saina’s husband Parupalli Kashyap brought up the topic, saying he read people think Saina was ‘gifted’ her bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Fuming at the suggestion, Saina gave a fiery reply to those making such comments.

“During the Paris Olympics she had said something and in the comments (on social media) I was seeing people saying that she got gifted the bronze medal,” Kashyap said during a chat with RJ Anmol and actor Amrita Rao.

Saina, upon hearing Kashyap bringing up what social media trolls wrote, said that those who think that way should first become capable enough to qualify for Olympic Games.

“Olympic level ke layak toh bano aap. Pehle Olympics ke liye qualify toh karke dikhao (Try and get yourself up to the level of the Olympics),” said the ace shuttler.

Saina was awarded bronze medal in 2012 London Olympic Games after her opponent, China’s Wang Xin, injured herself by twisting her knee and retired hurt.

For reference, Saina had irked many because of her comments on wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from women’s 53kg final after failing to maintain the desired weight during the pre-match weigh-in.

Speaking on the topic, Saina had said: “Generally, such type of mistakes don’t happen to any athlete at this level. How did this happen is a question mark. Because she has a big team. She has so many coaches, physios, trainers. They all must be feeling so bad. I am not sure about the rules and regulation of wrestling. As an athlete, I am feeling bad.”

Saina had recently also hinted at retirement, saying her body is no longer able to take the strain of being an active sportsperson.

Ace Indian shuttler and former Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal has revealed that she is battling arthritis and will have to decide on her future in badminton by the end of this year as the ailment has made it impossible for her to train the usual hours. The 34-year-old former world No.1, who was the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal with her bronze in London 2012, participated in three editions of the Games before being hampered by injuries. The 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist said she can no longer overlook the fact that her career is in its final leg.

“The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours,” Nehwal said on the ‘House of Glory’ podcast hosted by shooting great Gagan Narang, who was India’s chef-de-mission in the recent Paris Olympics.

“How will you challenge the best players in the world in such a state? I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results,” she added.

Nehwal said she is still considering the impact retirement will have on her but admitted that she would eventually have to take a call. The trailblazing star, who is also a BJP member now, was last seen in action more than a year ago in the Singapore Open where she lost in the opening round.

“I am also thinking about it (retirement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson’s career is always a short one. I started at the age of 9. I will be 35 next year,” she said.

“I have also had a long career and I am very proud of that. I have broken my body to a great extent. I am happy with what I have done and given it all. (I) will assess how I feel by the end of this year,” she added.

The Padma Shri awardee said competing at the Olympics was her childhood dream and missing the showpiece for two consecutive editions has been hurtful.

“Competing at the Olympics is a childhood dream for all. You prepare to reach that level for years. Hence, at times, when you realise you will not be able to make it, it hurts a lot,” she expressed.

“Because it is not like you do not want to play, but your body is telling that you are not doing well and you have injuries.”

Nehwal, however, said she would look back at her run in the Games with pride. “But I have done a lot of hard work. I competed in three Olympics. I gave my 100 per cent in all of them. I can take pride in that and be happy about it,” she said.

Nehwal also spoke about the pressure of expectations and said as a top athlete, she has faced it not just from observers of the game but also from near and dear ones.

“When you become a big player, your friends, family, coaches, sponsors, everyone wants you to perform. There are a lot of stakeholders involved,” she said.

“With already a short career span, athletes cannot afford to take a four-year break and have to keep performing continuously. If you wish to become an international champion, you have to be strong to make tough decisions,” she added.

Ace Indian shuttler and former Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal has revealed that she is battling arthritis and will have to decide on her future in badminton by the end of this year as the ailment has made it impossible for her to train the usual hours. The 34-year-old former world No.1, who was the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal with her bronze in London 2012, participated in three editions of the Games before being hampered by injuries.

The 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist said she can no longer overlook the fact that her career is in its final leg.

“The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours,” Nehwal said on the ‘House of Glory’ podcast hosted by shooting great Gagan Narang, who was India’s chef-de-mission in the recent Paris Olympics.

“How will you challenge the best players in the world in such a state? I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results,” she added.

Nehwal said she is still considering the impact retirement will have on her but admitted that she would eventually have to take a call. The trailblazing star, who is also a BJP member now, was last seen in action more than a year ago in the Singapore Open where she lost in the opening round.

“I am also thinking about it (retirement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson’s career is always a short one. I started at the age of 9. I will be 35 next year,” she said.

“I have also had a long career and I am very proud of that. I have broken my body to a great extent. I am happy with what I have done and given it all. (I) will assess how I feel by the end of this year,” she added.

The Padma Shri awardee said competing at the Olympics was her childhood dream and missing the showpiece for two consecutive editions has been hurtful.

“Competing at the Olympics is a childhood dream for all. You prepare to reach that level for years. Hence, at times, when you realise you will not be able to make it, it hurts a lot,” she expressed.

“Because it is not like you do not want to play, but your body is telling that you are not doing well and you have injuries.” Nehwal, however, said she would look back at her run in the Games with pride. “But I have done a lot of hard work. I competed in three Olympics. I gave my 100 per cent in all of them. I can take pride in that and be happy about it,” she said.

Nehwal also spoke about the pressure of expectations and said as a top athlete, she has faced it not just from observers of the game but also from near and dear ones.

“When you become a big player, your friends, family, coaches, sponsors, everyone wants you to perform. There are a lot of stakeholders involved,” she said.

“With already a short career span, athletes cannot afford to take a four-year break and have to keep performing continuously. If you wish to become an international champion, you have to be strong to make tough decisions,” she added.

In a touching show of patriotism, Indian sports icons have come together to extend their heartfelt wishes on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day. From cricket legends to Olympic and Paralympic champions, athletes have taken to social media to share their greetings with the nation. “Sportspersons aren’t the only ones playing for India. Every Indian who does their job with honesty and sincerity is a key player for Team India. So, when the national anthem plays today, know that it’s for you, and I hope you’ll feel the same way I did when I heard it every time I stepped out to play for India,” Sachin Tendulkar posted on X.

Sportspersons aren’t the only ones playing for India. Every Indian who does their job with honesty and sincerity is a key player for Team India. So, when the national anthem plays today, know that it’s for you, and I hope you’ll feel the same way I did when I heard it every time…

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 15, 2024

Olympics medallist shuttler Saina Nehwal said, “As a sportsperson, I’ve learned the value of freedom on the field, but it’s the freedom of our nation that gives us the strength to dream big. Happy Independence Day!”

As a sportsperson, I’ve learned the value of freedom on the field, but it’s the freedom of our nation that gives us the strength to dream big. Happy Independence Day!#JaiHind #FreedomToDream #HappyIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/cOkTpIr6dD

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) August 15, 2024

Indian men’s hockey stalwart PR Sreejesh, said “Proud Indian, Wishing you all a memorable Independence Day! May the spirit of freedom and patriotism fill your heart with pride.”

Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir, shared “Freedom comes at a price. Our heroes pay it everyday with their blood! Never forget #HappyIndependenceDay”

Freedom comes at a price. Our heroes pay it everyday with their blood! Never forget #HappyIndependenceDaypic.twitter.com/wJgY4IH5pi

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 15, 2024

Ex-India women’s cricket captain, Mithali Raj wrote, “Every time our tricolour flutters in the wind, it tells a story of resilience, hope, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. Our nation’s journey is a testament to the strength we find in unity and the dreams we share. Today, we honour our past and look ahead to a future filled with endless possibilities. Happy Independence Day to every Indian, wherever you are.”

Paralympics champion shuttler Pramod Bhagat also conveyed his greeting on the occasion, “Happy Independence Day! Let’s take a moment to reflect on our journey as a nation and pledge to contribute towards a brighter future for all. Together, we are unstoppable!”

Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, wrote “Let us celebrate the courage and sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom. Let us stay united and work towards progress, and equality for all Indians. Happy Independence Day”

“Always proud and honoured to stand with our tricolor! Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Independence Day,” posted former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh.

Always proud and honoured to stand with our tricolor!

Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Independence Day  #HappyIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/cgYJTa6OKK

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) August 15, 2024

The theme of this year’s Independence Day celebration is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’, which aims to propel the country towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by the year 2047.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag and delivered the customary address to the nation from the Red Fort’s ramparts.

Around 6,000 special guests representing diverse sections of Indian society, including youth, tribal communities, farmers, women, and beneficiaries of various government schemes, were invited to witness the ceremony.

Vinesh Phogat’s day of triumph turned into abject despair on Wednesday morning after the wrestler was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh had qualified for the 50kg women’s wrestling final – the first Indian woman to do so. But now she will have to return empty-handed from Paris. The Indian Olympic Association requested privacy for the wrestler, who was competing in her third Olympics.

International rules stipulate that any grappler found overweight at the time of weigh-in ends up at the bottom of the final standings. She had taken down defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan en route the finals on Tuesday in a remarkable performance and was to face American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the summit bout this evening.

“She is an experienced athlete. She knows what is right or wrong. I don’y know the details of wrestling. I don’t know if there has been any appeal in Olympics which resulted in something significant. She knows the rule. I don’t what mistake she did, that too on the final day. I have always seen her working very hard. She gives her 100 per cent.”

Saina Nehwal, India’s first Olympic medallist in badminton, was surprised by the ‘mistake’ at such a top level. 

“Generally such type of mistakes don’t happen to any athlete at this level. How did this happen is a question mark. Because she has a big team. She has so many coaches, physios, trainers. They all must be feeling so bad. I am not sure about the rules and regulation of wrestling. As an athlete, I am feeling bad,” Saina said.

“It is not like she is playing her first Olympics, it’s her third Olympics. As an athletes she must know the rules. If there has been a mistake, I don’t know how it happened. At such a big stage, I have not heard any such thing about any other wrestler, that they have been disqualified due to being overweight. She is an experienced athlete. Somewhere there has been a mistake on Vinesh’s part too. She should take the blame too. Before such a big match, such a mistake is not right.”

Saina went on to say that there has been a mistake on Vinesh’s part too.  

“She is an Asian Games champion, a Commonwealth Games champion. Somewhere there must have been mistake on Vinesh’s part too. Because ahead of such a big match any player will be alert that the weight should be within permissible limits. How such a mistake happened only she or her coach can answer. But I am feeling dejected that we have missed one of sure-shot medal,” Saina said.

“I understand what she and her coaches  must be going through. They should answer now. May be by mistake something happened. Her coaches were crying after her victory. They should be in a better position to answer about what exactly happened.”

With PTI inputs

File photo of Parupalli Kashyap and MS Dhoni.© Instagram