Now Reading: India must top medal tally to be sporting nation: Saina Nehwal
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India must top medal tally to be sporting nation: Saina Nehwal
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…
The Story in Brief
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.
The Indian Opinion
Saina's call for a top medals tally is a familiar refrain, but it risks reducing sport to a medal count when grassroots participation matters equally. The narrative that India is not a sporting nation until it tops the table ignores progress in individual sports and the unique challenges of a billion-plus population. The real test will be whether the government and corporates heed her plea for early sponsorships and psychological support, not just for Olympic sports but across disciplines. Will the next budget reflect this shift?
Sources (2): thehindu.com, sports.ndtv.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
