'Don't know how long...': Saina Nehwal drops major retirement bomb ahead of Asian Games

When we talk about Badminton in India, the legendary star Saina Nehwal comes to mind. The 33-year-old star is regarded as one of the best in the history of sports in the women's division. However, being prone to injury has caused major concerns for her to continue at the top level. 

3 things you need to know 

• Saina Nehwal has represented India in 3 Olympics 
• She has won 24 international  titles 
• She is a recipient of Padma Bhushan award

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Saina Nehwal talks about her fitness issues 

Saina Nehwal, the London Olympic medalist, has not given up hope of competing in the Paris Olympics. However, at 33 years old and dealing with chronic knee ailments, she recognises the difficulty of making the team. Saina's absence from the tour since her early departure from the Singapore Open in June indicates her persistent fitness worries.

 She competed in six competitions in 2023 but did not get past the second round, and she withdrew from the Asian Games 2023 trials due to injury. She is now ranked No. 55 in women's singles badminton and does not even make the top 100 in the Race to Paris rankings. Saina must show regular results in order to compete in the next year's Paris Olympics. She updated about her injury while talking to reporters in Delhi: 

I get inflammation in my knee whenever I train for an hour or two. I am not able to bend my knee so a second session of training is not possible. The doctors have given me a couple of injections. Of course, the Olympics is near and it is tough (to qualify),

But I am trying my level best to come back. The physios are helping me but if the inflammation doesn't reduce, it will take a little more time to recover. I also don't want to play half-heartedly and results will also not come.

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Saina Nehwal  gives an update on her retirement

She is not representing India in the upcoming Asian Games, and talking about her retirement concerns, she does not plan to retire anytime soon and wants to return at her best level as soon as possible. She added: 

"My body is not doing well - I don't know how long I can carry on but I will give it my all," 

'Everyone has to retire someday...there is no deadline. Everyone is going to stop when you feel the body is not supporting you.'' ''But at the moment I am trying. As a sports person, it is my duty to try because I love the game and I have been playing for so many years.

''But if it doesn't happen, then it means, how much I have tried. I have done everything, I mean I shouldn't have any regrets. 

Indian Badminton participants for Asian Games Hangzhou 2023

Men's singles: HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth (individual/team), Lakshya Sen and Mithun Manjunath (team)

Men's doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty and Dhruv Kapila/MR Arjun (individual/team)

Women's singles: PV Sindhu and Ashmita Chaliha (individual/team), Anupama Upadhyaya and Malvika Bansod (team)

Women's doubles: Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly and Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto (individual/team)

Mixed doubles: Rohan Kapoor /N Sikki Reddy and Sai Pratheek K/Tanisha Crasto