Now Reading: Saina Nehwal says India must top medals table to be sporting nation
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Saina Nehwal says India must top medals table to be sporting nation
Former world No. 1 badminton player Saina Nehwal said India must finish among the leading nations in the Olympic medals tally before it can call itself a sporting nation. Speaking at St…
The Story in Brief
Former world No. 1 badminton player Saina Nehwal said India must finish among the leading nations in the Olympic medals tally before it can call itself a sporting nation. Speaking at St Xavier’s College’s inter-collegiate festival Malhar on Saturday, she said efforts to host the Olympics and other major events must be matched by stronger performances.
Nehwal said women’s sport has improved sharply, with athletes from Haryana making progress in wrestling, boxing and badminton. She called for early funding, better sponsorship and stronger support teams, including psychologists, trainers and physiotherapists. She said financial security outside cricket remains weak, and many athletes lose interest because they cannot treat sport as a stable profession.
The Indian Opinion
The easy narrative is that India needs only bigger events or more facilities. Nehwal’s point is harder and more useful: medals depend on support that starts before fame, not after it. The opposite claim, that money alone creates champions, is also too simple. Coaching, mental care and sustained funding must work together. The next test is whether India can turn a larger talent pool into more athletes consistently reaching the world’s top 10.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
