# India must top medal tally to be sporting nation: Saina Nehwal 2026-08-15T14:47:28+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Saina Nehwal said India must rank among top nations in the Olympic medals tally to truly be called a sporting nation. Speaking at the Malhar festival at St Xavier's College in Mumbai on Saturday, the former world No. 1 shuttler noted that while women's sports have improved greatly, especially in Haryana, much work remains. She called for early financial backing, sponsorships, and better coaching infrastructure including psychologists and trainers. "Unless you reach top 15 or top 20, you won't even get good sponsorships," she said, adding that other sports need job security like cricket to sustain talent. ## Coverage - thehindu.com - sports.ndtv.com Tags: India, Olympics, Saina Nehwal, St Xavier's College Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/saina-nehwal-says-india-must-top-medals-table-to-be-sporting-nation/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/saina-nehwal-says-india-must-top-medals-table-to-be-sporting-nation/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.