Badminton

Saina Nehwal, India's badminton icon and former Olympic bronze medalist, has revealed her battle with arthritis, casting doubt on her future in the sport. The 34-year-old, who made history as the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal, is facing the reality that her illustrious career may be nearing its end.Nehwal's knee injury, aggravated by arthritis, has severely limited her training hours. "The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours," she said.The realization that her body is no longer capable of the rigorous training required to compete at the highest level has forced Nehwal to confront the possibility of retirement. "I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results," she admitted.Nehwal's decision will be influenced by the impact retirement will have on her life. "I am also thinking about it (retirement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson's career is always a short one," she said.Despite the challenges, Nehwal remains proud of her accomplishments. "I have also had a long career and I am very proud of that. I have broken my body to a great extent. I am happy with what I have done and given it all," she said.The Padma Shri awardee expressed her disappointment at missing the Olympics for two consecutive editions. "Competing at the Olympics is a childhood dream for all. You prepare to reach that level for years. Hence, at times, when you realize you will not be able to make it, it hurts a lot," she said.Nehwal also spoke about the pressure of expectations that comes with being a top athlete. "When you become a big player, your friends, family, coaches, sponsors, everyone wants you to perform. There are a lot of stakeholders involved," she said.As she contemplates her future, Nehwal remains grateful for the support she has received throughout her career. "I have done a lot of hard work. I competed in three Olympics. I gave my 100 per cent in all of them. I can take pride in that and be happy about it," she said.

In a highly anticipated rematch of the Tokyo Paralympics gold medal match, India's Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj faced off against France's Lucas Mazur once again in the Men's Singles SL4 section at the Paris Paralympics. However, history repeated itself as Mazur emerged victorious, securing a 2-0 (9-21, 13-21) victory over Yathiraj, leaving the Indian with a silver medal.Yathiraj, an IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, had previously lost to Mazur in three games in the Tokyo final. Despite a valiant effort, he was unable to replicate that performance in Paris, falling short in both games. The SL4 category is designed for players with movement affected at a low level on one side of the body, in both legs, or the minor absence of one limb. They play standing on a full-width court and possess good court movement and a full range of shots.Yathiraj, the reigning Asian Para Games gold medallist in the SL4 category, has a long-standing rivalry with Mazur. The Frenchman continued his dominance in the tournament, taking an early 7-0 lead in the first game. Despite Yathiraj's attempts to fight back, Mazur's early advantage proved insurmountable, resulting in a 9-21 loss for the Indian.In the second game, Yathiraj sought to gain momentum, but Mazur's challenge proved too formidable. The Indian trailed 6-11 at the mid-game interval and was unable to close the gap, ultimately losing 13-21. Mazur comfortably secured his second consecutive gold medal in this category.Yathiraj's journey in Paris began with two consecutive straight-set victories. He defeated Indonesia's Hikmant Ramdani 21-7, 21-5 and Republic of Korea's Kyung Hwan Shin in the opening stages to top Group A. Group winners were guaranteed a spot in the semifinals of the event, where Suhas faced compatriot Sukant Kadam.Yathiraj bested Kadam in straight games, securing a decisive 2-0 victory (21-19, 21-12) in a match that lasted 35 minutes. The win over Kadam paved the way for a rematch between Yathiraj and Mazur, which ultimately went the Tokyo way, with the Indian settling for silver.Mazur carved his way into the final by topping Group D. He defeated Brazil's Rogerio Oliviera 2-0 before knocking out Indian para-shuttler Tarun Dhillon 2-0 in the second game. He then proceeded to breeze past Indonesian Fredy Satiawan, the bronze medallist in Tokyo, with yet another 2-0 victory.Yathiraj, alongside Thulasimathi Murugesan, who won the silver, and Manisha Ramadass, who secured the bronze medal in the Women's Singles SU5 category earlier, has taken India's medal tally in Paris to 12.

Saina Nehwal, India's badminton icon and former Olympic bronze medalist, has revealed her battle with arthritis, casting doubt on her future in the sport. The 34-year-old, who made history as the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal, has been hampered by injuries in recent years.Nehwal's knee condition has deteriorated to the point where she can no longer train for the extended hours required to compete at the highest level. "The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours," she said.The realization that her career is nearing its end has been a difficult one for Nehwal. "I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results," she admitted.Nehwal is considering retirement but is still weighing the impact it will have on her life. "I am also thinking about it (retirement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson's career is always a short one," she said.Despite the challenges, Nehwal looks back on her career with pride. She competed in three Olympic Games and gave her all in each one. "I have done a lot of hard work. I competed in three Olympics. I gave my 100 per cent in all of them. I can take pride in that and be happy about it," she said.Nehwal also spoke about the pressure of expectations that comes with being a top athlete. "When you become a big player, your friends, family, coaches, sponsors, everyone wants you to perform. There are a lot of stakeholders involved," she said.As Nehwal contemplates her future, she knows that she will have to make a decision by the end of the year. Her legacy as one of India's greatest badminton players is secure, but the question remains whether she will continue to push her body or step away from the sport that has defined her life.

Indian para-badminton star Manisha Ramdass has advanced to the women's singles semifinals in the SU5 category at the Paris Paralympics, keeping India's medal hopes alive. However, Mandeep Kaur and Palak Kohli's campaigns ended in the quarterfinals with contrasting defeats.Ramdass, 19, who has Erb's palsy affecting her right arm, dominated Japan's Mamiko Toyoda 21-13, 21-16 in the quarterfinals. The second-seeded Indian needed just 30 minutes to dispatch her unseeded opponent. In the SU5 category, players have impairments in their upper limbs.In the SL3 category, Mandeep Kaur faced a tough challenge against Nigeria's third-seeded Bolaji Mariam Eniola, losing 8-21, 9-21 in 23 minutes. It was her second consecutive defeat to Eniola, having lost in the group stage as well. The SL3 category is for players with severe lower-limb disabilities who compete on a half-width court.Palak Kohli, a para world championship bronze medalist, fought hard in the SL4 category but fell short against Indonesia's Khalimatus Sadiyah 19-21, 15-21 in 28 minutes. SL4 is a class for athletes with less severe lower-limb impairments than in SL3.Later in the day, Nithya Sivan Sumathy will compete in the quarterfinals of the SH6 category against Poland's Oliwia Szmigiel. In the men's singles, Suhas Yathiraj and Sukant Kadam will face off in an all-Indian semifinal in the SL4 category. Nitesh Kumar will take on Japan's Daisuke Fujihara in the SL3 category semifinal.

Indian para-badminton players Nitesh Kumar and Sukant Kadam have secured their spots in the semifinals of the men's singles SL3 and SL4 categories, respectively, at the Paris Paralympics.Nitesh, a silver medalist at the Asian Para Games in 2021, dominated his last group match against Thailand's Mongkhon Bunsun, winning 21-13, 21-14. This victory earned him the top spot in Group A, with Bunsun also qualifying as the second-place finisher.In the SL3 class, which caters to players with severe lower limb disabilities, the top two finishers from each of the two groups advance to the semifinals. Nitesh's compatriot Manoj Sarkar, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Paralympics, defeated China's Yang Jianyuan 21-1, 21-11 in a match that had no bearing on the semifinals qualification.Sukant Kadam joined his fellow Indian Suhas Yathiraj in the semifinals of the men's singles SL4 class, which is for athletes with lower limb impairments and minor balance issues. Kadam defeated Thailand's Teamarrom Siripong 21-12, 21-12 to top Group B. This was his second consecutive win in the three-player group.In the women's singles SL3 category, Mandeep Kaur advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Australia's Vinot Celine Aurelie 21-23, 21-10, 21-17. Kaur finished second in Group B, with Nigeria's Bolaji Mariam topping the group and securing a semifinal berth.In mixed doubles, the Indian pair of Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli lost their opening match in the SL3 category to the top-seeded Indonesian duo of Hikmat Ramdani and Leani Ratri Oktila. Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan also suffered a defeat in the SL3 mixed doubles, losing to the French team of Faustine Noel and Lucas Mazur. However, Nithya Sivan Sumathy and Sivarajan Solaimalai registered a victory in the SL3 mixed doubles, defeating Thailand's Natthapong Meechai and Chai Saeyang.

Indian Paralympians Shine in Paris, Badminton Star Sivarajan Solaimalai ImpressesThe Indian contingent at the Paris 2024 Paralympics has made a strong start, returning with four medals on Friday. While not all athletes have secured podium finishes, many have showcased exceptional performances, including badminton star Sivarajan Solaimalai.In a men's singles SH6 group play stage match against Hong Kong's Man Kai Chu, Solaimalai displayed remarkable skill and determination. A video of the match has gone viral, capturing the duo's intense rally and awe-inspiring shots.Indian para shuttlers have performed exceptionally well on Day 3 of the Paralympic Badminton event, with several advancing to the next stages. In the men's SL3 category, Kumar Nitesh dominated China's Yang Jianyuan, securing a straight-sets victory. Suhas L Yathiraj also impressed in the SL4 category, defeating Korea's Shin Kyung Hwan in a thrilling match.The women's category has also seen strong performances. Thulsimathi Murugesan and Nithya Sre both booked their spots in the semifinals with impressive victories. However, Mansi Joshi, Manoj Sarkar, and Palak Kohli faced tough opponents and were unable to advance.Despite these setbacks, India's athletes remain focused and determined. This year's contingent is the largest ever, with 84 athletes competing across 12 sports. India aims to surpass its previous achievements in Tokyo, where it won 19 medals, including five golds.

India's Nitesh Kumar, a 29-year-old IIT Mandi graduate, has secured a spot in the semifinals of the men's singles SL3 group A para badminton competition at the Paris Paralympics. Kumar, who suffered a permanent leg injury in an accident in 2009, displayed exceptional skill and determination in his second match, defeating China's Yang Jianyuan in straight games (21-5, 21-11).Kumar's victory ensures him a top-two finish in the four-man group, with the top two players from each group advancing to the semifinals. He will face Thailand's Bunsun Mongkhon in his final group match.However, Manasi Joshi and Manoj Sarkar's hopes of reaching the semifinals were dashed after they suffered their second consecutive defeats. Joshi, a 2019 World Champion, narrowly lost to Ukraine's Oksana Kozyna (21-10, 15-21, 21-23) in her second women's singles SL3 Group A match. Sarkar, a Tokyo bronze medalist, also faced defeat, losing to Bunsun (19-21, 8-21) in his second Group A match.In the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 group stage, Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan lost to the Indonesian pair of Ramdani Hikmat and Oktila leani Ratri (15-21, 8-21). Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli also suffered a defeat to France's Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel (15-21, 9-21) in their second group A mixed doubles match.

Lakshya Sen, India's rising badminton star, made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semi-finals. However, his Olympic dream was shattered as he narrowly missed out on a medal, losing to Viktor Axelsen in the semi-final and Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match.Despite the disappointment, Sen's performance was a testament to his talent and hard work. He displayed exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament, showcasing his potential as a future champion.After his semi-final loss, Sen expressed his devastation at not being able to secure a medal for India. He acknowledged that he could have been more clinical in the crucial stages of the match. However, he remained positive, recognizing that there were areas where he could improve.Prakash Padukone, a legendary Indian badminton player, expressed his disappointment but also emphasized the need for Indian players to deliver results, given the support they receive. He pointed out that Sen had performed well but could have done better.Sen acknowledged Padukone's advice and appreciated the support he received from the badminton community. He highlighted the guidance and encouragement he received from Prakash Padukone and his daughter, Deepika Padukone.Despite the setback, Sen remains determined to achieve his Olympic dream. He is confident that he can learn from his experiences and return stronger in the future. His performance at the Paris Olympics has ignited hope and inspiration among Indian badminton fans, who believe that he has the potential to become one of the greatest players in the sport.

Seasoned Indian shuttler HS Prannoy has announced a break from badminton to prioritize his recovery from the debilitating effects of chikungunya. The 32-year-old, a key member of India's historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022, has been battling persistent joint pain caused by the mosquito-borne viral disease.Prannoy's decision comes after a challenging period marked by a series of illnesses, including a chronic stomach disorder and a nagging back injury. Despite his physical struggles, he displayed remarkable resilience at the Paris Olympics, winning both his Group matches before bowing out in the pre-quarterfinals to compatriot Lakshya Sen."Unfortunately, the battle with chikungunya has taken a toll on my body, leaving me with persistent pains that make it impossible to compete at my best," Prannoy wrote in a statement. "After careful consideration with my team, I've decided to withdraw from some of the upcoming tournaments to focus on recovery."Prannoy's absence will be a significant blow to the Indian badminton contingent, which is preparing for a busy schedule of international tournaments. However, the shuttler emphasized his determination to return stronger and expressed gratitude for the support he has received during this challenging time."Thank you for your understanding and support during this challenging time. I'll be back stronger," he added.Prannoy's decision highlights the importance of prioritizing health and well-being in the pursuit of sporting excellence. While his absence from the badminton circuit will be felt, his commitment to recovery and his unwavering spirit will undoubtedly inspire others.