India’s badminton star Saina Nehwal has responded to trolls who have questioned her bronze medal win at the 2012 London Olympics. Nehwal made history by becoming the first Indian shuttler to secure an Olympic bronze medal.
Saina Nehwal
India’s badminton star Saina Nehwal has fiercely defended her 2012 London Olympics bronze medal after facing criticism from trolls questioning her achievement. Nehwal made history at the Games by becoming the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal.
In the bronze medal match, Nehwal was competing against China’s Wang Xin. She lost the first game 18-21 and was trailing in the second game before Wang Xin injured her right knee and had to withdraw. This injury led to Nehwal being awarded the bronze medal.
Recently, some trolls on social media have claimed that Nehwal’s medal was merely a gift. In response, Saina and her husband, Parupalli Kashyap, addressed these allegations in an interview.
Kashyap remarked, “During the Paris Olympics, some people claimed in the comments that Saina’s bronze medal was gifted to her.”
Nehwal responded by challenging her critics to reach Olympic standards themselves. “Olympic level ke layak toh bano aap. Pehle Olympics ke liye qualify toh karke dikhao (Try and get yourself up to the level of the Olympics first),” Saina said.
Nehwal also stirred controversy with her recent remarks about Vinesh Phogat. After Phogat’s disqualification from her gold medal match, Nehwal suggested that Phogat was partly responsible for the outcome. This comment was met with backlash from social media users. Additionally, Nehwal faced criticism for comparing cricket’s fitness demands to other sports, with some suggesting she should face Jasprit Bumrah to test her fitness.
Nehwal has not competed since last year’s Singapore Open and is contemplating retirement due to ongoing battles with arthritis. She may decide to retire by the end of the year.
