13 august 2024 : Renowned badminton player Saina Nehwal recently admitted that she was unaware that javelin was an Olympic event until Neeraj Chopra secured the gold medal in 2021. This statement suggests that it can be quite challenging to stay informed about other sports when one is fully dedicated to their own discipline.
“It was only when Neeraj won that I learned athletics included this event as well. Knowledge comes from observation, doesn’t it? If you do not watch, how can you be informed? I had no prior knowledge of the javelin throw. Honestly, I was unaware,” Nehwal stated in an interview with journalist Shubhankar Mishra.
“Athletics encompasses numerous sports. I only became aware of it when the results were announced. I am certain that many people are not familiar with badminton. I did not even know who Prakash sir was…”
Nehwal, who has represented India at the Olympics on three occasions and earned a bronze medal in 2012, emphasized that excelling in one’s own area is often sufficient.
“It is not that one lacks the desire to learn, but when you are so immersed in your own field, how much time can you devote to exploring other areas? Otherwise, you would need to constantly search for information online. Mastery in your own discipline is more than adequate,” she remarked.
Nehwal’s comments quickly gained traction on social media, leading to criticism from users who expressed disbelief at her lack of awareness regarding the javelin event in the Olympics.
The online reactions included comparisons to the actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, with many users stating, “Kangana Ranaut of sports.”
“Quite surprising that a sportsperson of Saina Nehwal’s stature would pretend to be ignorant about the javelin event,” remarked X user Sylvia Francis.
“Most of India only recognized Saina Nehwal because her name is reminiscent of tennis star Sania Mirza,” added another user, Vinay Kumar Dokania.
Nehwal, who has been honored with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, became a member of the BJP in 2020.