adminton star Saina Nehwal has once again ignited a social media debate following her recent podcast appearance. The Olympic medallist’s remarks about fellow athletes and sports have led to a surge of online trolls and memes. In the podcast, Saina candidly admitted that she was unaware of javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra until he won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Her admission was met with a mix of surprise and criticism. While some viewed it as a frank acknowledgement, others, including Chopra's fans, reacted harshly. Saina was even labelled the “Kangana Ranaut of Sports” by some netizens, referring to the Bollywood actress known for her controversial statements.
Saina responded to the backlash with characteristic fortitude. On X (formerly Twitter), she addressed the criticism by defending her achievements and acknowledging Chopra’s impact. “Thanks for the compliment.
.. Kangana is beautiful.
..but I had to be perfect in my sport and I proudly achieved world number 1 and an Olympic medal in badminton for my country,” she wrote.
“Again, I will say this: sitting at home and commenting is easy, but playing sports isn’t.” The former world number one also used the platform to praise Neeraj Chopra as a superstar who has popularised javelin throw in India. In the same podcast, Saina’s comments on cricket, particularly regarding fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, stirred further controversy.
Saina claimed that cricket is riskier than badminton, and suggested that the choice of sport is not necessarily influenced by its risk level. She likened facing Bumrah’s bowling to handling a 300 km/h badminton smash, which sparked a heated response from cricket fans. During the discussion, Saina dismissed the notion that cricket poses a unique risk of death compared to other sports.
“Who plays cricket to get killed? That’s not my point. Nobody is talking about killing or getting killed. This is a game, which you play to win, lose, and make your country proud,” she said.
She further added that if Bumrah were to play badminton, he might struggle with her powerful smashes. Saina also expressed her frustration with the focus on cricket and Bollywood in India, urging for greater appreciation of other sports to foster a more diverse sporting culture. “We should not fight over such things in our own country.
I’m asking people to appreciate the value of other games, not just cricket. How else shall we create a sporting environment across the country?” she argued. The debate over Saina’s comments is further fuelled by a recent social media spat involving Angkrish Raghuvanshi, a young player for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Raghuvanshi had previously criticised Saina in a now-deleted tweet, suggesting that she would struggle to face Bumrah’s fast deliveries. This remark was seen as a reaction to Saina’s comparison of sports challenges. As Saina Nehwal continues to make headlines both on and off the field, her statements and their repercussions highlight the ongoing dialogue about sports, risk, and public perception in India.
(With inputs from Agencies).
