September 3, 2024: India’s top badminton player and Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal has revealed that she is battling arthritis and may decide on retirement by the end of this year. She shared that due to the illness, she is finding it difficult to train as she normally would. In a podcast with shooter Gagan Narang, Nehwal said, “My knees are not in good condition. I have arthritis. In such a situation, playing for eight to nine hours is very challenging. How can you compete with the world’s best players in such a condition?”
She added, “I am thinking about retirement. I know it will be a very tough decision to make.” She further stated, “My career has been long, and I am proud of it. I am happy with my achievements.” Notably, Saina is also a member of the BJP.