Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has said that she has swelling in her knees, which has kept her out of competitive play. Speaking to the reporters during a press conference in Gurugram at Global Race 2023 on Wednesday, the Olympic and World Championships medalist hinted that the injury may lead her into retirement soon.

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"Three to four months ago I was playing Singapore Open. My knees and cartilage started to hurt. So, consulted a doctor and my physio is also working on it. My knees showed inflammation. I do not want to play half-hearted," Saina Nehwal said in the press conference. The Indian Badminton Player attended the press conference for the launch of 'Harvest Gold Global Race 2023' at Le Meridien, in New Delhi, September 13, 2023.

"Not thinking about coaching. For me playing is easy and coaching is the toughest job," Saina also said that she is not open to coaching in future.

Saina is not participating in the Asian Games due to injury. Due to her absence, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, and PV Sindhu will be leading the Indian Badminton contingent in the Hangzhou Games set to take place from September 23- October 8.

Also Read: China launches the torch relay for its Covid-delayed Asian Games

Meanwhile, Saina Nehwal has not been in good form in 2020. Last year, Saina played 13 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour tournaments. Out of which she reached the quarterfinals only once, at the Singapore Open. She has mostly made first-round exits in other tournaments. Also this year, she has played six BWF World Tour tournaments. Out of these three were eliminated in the first round and three in the second round.

Saina Nehwal is currently ranked 55th in the world in the women's singles competition. Her last BWF World Tour title win was in January 2019, when she won the Indonesia Masters.

In a country where sports is often dominated by men, some Olympic stars chose to challenge the ordinary and pave a path for Indian sports women. Indian sport has seen a massive rise in the number of it's female athletes shining at the world stage since the turn of the millennium.

In this article, we will take a look at those Indian female Olympians who made Olympic history.

Also Read: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

1. Karnam Malleswari

Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari created history and became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Olympics. During the Sydney 2000 Games, Karnam Malleswari lifted 110kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk categories for a total of 240kg and finished the competition with a bronze medal. She is also the first Indian weightlifter (male or female) to win an Olympic medal.

2. Saina Nehwal

Former world No.1 Saina Nehwal put Indian badminton on the global map when she finished with a bronze medal in the women’s singles at the London 2012 Olympics.

Saina Nehwal clinched the medal after her opponent Wang Xin of the People's Republic of China retired due to injury during the bronze medal playoff match. After this, Saina became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal and has represented the country in three Summer Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016).

3. Mary Kom

Star boxer Mary Kom etched her name in Indian sports’ history books by clinching a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics. The Manipuri boxer beat Poland’s Karolina Michalczuk and Tunisia’s Maroua Rahali in the first two rounds but lost her semi-final bout to Great Britain's Nicola Adams, settling for the bronze medal.

It was the first Olympic medal in boxing by an Indian woman and only the second after Vijender Singh’s bronze at Beijing 2008. Women’s boxing made its Olympic debut at London 2012.

4. PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu built on what Saina Newhal had achieved at London 2012 and took Indian badminton a step further by reaching the women’s singles final at the Rio 2016 Games.

PV Sindhu lost the final to Spain’s Carolina Marin and finished with a silver medal after a hard-fought 83-minute title battle. Despite being the runner-up, PV Sindhu created history by becoming India's youngest individual Olympic medallist, a record which has since been surpassed. She also became the first Indian woman to bag an Olympic silver medal.

5. Sakshi Malik

Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category at Rio 2016 to become the first Indian woman to win a medal in wrestling at the Olympics.

After notching up wins in the earlier rounds, Sakshi Malik lost to Valeria Koblova of Russia in the quarter-finals. However, with Koblova making the final, Sakshi Malik entered the repechage round and came home with the bronze medal following an 8–5 victory over Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan. Sakshi’s win at Rio was a memorable one as she turned the bout on its head despite trailing 5-0 at one stage.

6. Mirabai Chanu

After a disappointing outing at Rio 2016, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, with a total lift of 202kg, won the silver medal in the 49kg category at Tokyo 2020. With the feat, Mirabai Chanu of Manipur became the first Indian weightlifter to bag a silver at the Olympics.

Mirabai Chanu also became the second Indian weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win a medal at the Summer Games as well as the second Indian woman, after PV Sindhu, to win a silver medal at the Olympics.

7. Lovlina Borgohain

Assamese boxer Lovlina Borgohain emulated the legendary Mary Kom by clinching a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. Lovlina Borgohain defeated Germany’s Nadine Apetz in the round of 16 and outpunched Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin in the quarter-finals to secure herself a bronze medal.

However, Turkish world No. 1 Busenaz Surmeneli proved too strong for her in the semi-finals as the Indian finished with a bronze medal.

8. Sania Mirza

Inspired by stalwart Serena Williams, who returned to the tennis circuit after having a baby, Sania Mirza has begun to feel her way back into the sport as well. The Indian tennis ace gave birth to a boy late in 2018 and was on maternal duty ever since. But 2020 saw Sania Mirza return to the court.

Building form with every passing match, Sania Mirza made a fourth Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, where she made a first-round exit in the women’s doubles alongside Ankita Raina. Sania retired in 2023 as easily the best women's tennis player to emerge from India.

9. Dipa Karmakar

Dipa Karmakar, the shining star in Indian gymnastics, has made Olympic history by becoming the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympic Games. She is among the only five women who have been able to master the Produnova vault. Her awe-inspiring performances and fearless spirit have inspired young gymnasts to aim for the stars.

10. Manu Bhaker

Manu Bhaker won India's first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol shooting event. She thus became India's first woman to win a medal in Olympic shooting. A day earlier, she had become the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic shooting final in 20 years.

Manu Bhaker scored 221.7 to finish third in the eight-woman final. Oh Ye Jin of the Republic of Korea clinched the gold medal with the new Olympic record of 243.2 and was followed by her compatriot Yeji Kim, who pipped Bhaker to enter the gold medal round and won the silver with the final score of 241.3.

The contemporary Indian Badminton has so far gained the popularity in its country. However, certain issues need to be resolved. The biggest concern lies in the shuttlers facing a different environment in the non-Asian Countries. The major problem they face is the thick and slower court. 

This issue had made India short of many assured medals by whiskers. Be it peak Kidambi Srikanth missing his World Title in 2017 to Reddy-Shetty failing in big tournaments.

How do Indian and Asian Courts differ from European Courts?

The Asian Summers

Speaking about the weather in the Asian summers, it is humid. The Asian stadia provide full on air-conditioned courts for athletes. 

Air-conditioned rooms are marked favorable for shuttles, as the shuttles fly faster here. Here are the reasons:

• Lower air density: Air conditioning reduces temperature and humidity, resulting in denser air with fewer air molecules. This decrease in air resistance allows shuttlecocks to travel faster.
• Reduced air turbulence: Air conditioning systems circulate and filter the air, minimizing turbulence and air pockets that can slow down the shuttlecock.
• Consistent airflow: Air conditioning maintains a consistent airflow, reducing unpredictable air currents that can affect shuttlecock trajectory.
• Lower humidity: Dry air reduces the shuttlecock's drag coefficient, enabling it to fly faster.

This helps the athletes to maintain faster rallies and increased smashes with an attacking play. The also helps them to read the speed and work on their reaction time'

Added to this, the enhthralling supporters add more fuel to the pagddlers when tired.

European winters

European winters contradics the humid weather. Unlike the windy weather here, the air feels cal, slow and still. 

Slow and still air significantly impacts shuttlers' performance, technique, and strategy. it included different physical challenges along with rectified techniques and strategies.

The challanges a shuttler faces due to these conditions are as follows:

• Reduced shuttlecock speed: Slower reactions, less power.
• Increased drag: Shuttles dip and drop unexpectedly.
• Unpredictable trajectory: Difficulty judging distance and direction.
• Fatigue: Players expend more energy to generate power.

However, these are the "negetives" bigger stages like Olympics, offer.

Slow court, A Bane to the Shuttlers

Here are some instances when paddles were denied their crown due to the courts' behaviour.

• 2017 Kidambi Srikanth, a fast court specialist in India missed his Worlds Title in the slow Glaswegian conditions. The slow pitch defied from the title as the Korean Son Wan-ho defeated him in the quarterfinal.
• Tanvi Patri, a 13 year old rookie got defeated in Thailand's sluggish pitch last December. The thick air denied her speed, showing a red alert that she needs to gain some strength.
• And the most discussed duo- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. Right now, Reddy-Shetty is the finest doubles player in Indian Badminton periphery. Reddy still has his world fastest smash of 493km/hr. Even then, this duo cannot assert full power in slow court. And thus, they lost a few of the most serious and well-deserved titles.

Demands of Sluggish Pitches

Slow and still air significantly impacts shuttlers' performance, techniques, and strategies. Someone who was been trained on faster courts will find it difficult to adapt to the conditions if exposed.

The shuttles face certain physical changes that are listed below:

• Reduced shuttlecock speed: Slower reactions, less power.
• Increased drag: Shuttles dip and drop unexpectedly.
• Unpredictable trajectory: Difficulty judging distance and direction.
• Fatigue: Players expend more energy to generate power.

An athlete thus needs to make a few technical adjustments to combat the challenges.

• Slower stroke speed: Compensate for reduced shuttlecock speed.
• Increased wristwork: Generate power and control.
• Softer touches: Reduce shuttlecock's descent.
• More spin: Control shuttlecock trajectory.

The strategic changes include:

• Patient play: Waiting for opportunities to attack.
• Defensive focus: Exploiting opponents' struggles.
• Net play: Using precise, soft shots.
• Angle play: Creating sharp angles to disrupt opponents.

Effects on a few notable Shots:

1. Smashes: Less effective due to reduced power.
2. Clear shots: More difficult to execute.
3. Drops: Harder to control.

Slow Court? Not an Issue!

Not an old story when Lakshya Sen lost to Victor Axelsen in the Olympics semi-final. Slower Courts like that in Europe, especially in stages like Olympics demand patience and exquisite footwork, with strong defence. Lakshya had his defence in the checklist, but his footwork was still a sore in his throat. The Denmark giant was a set ahead when Lakshya fought but lost to nerves.

The bronze medal match had all these including his exposed injury in his smashing hand. The defence he has can aid in this condition but muscular opponents are still a challange to him.

The other veteran on court H.S. Pranoy is a clever lad with versatile techniques. He has got his techniques handy to combat the sluggishness. He thus not only won in Malaysia, but has a Worlds medal round his neck.

Two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu with her blazing power heft and work rate till 2019, defies these challanging conditions. The Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal with her sturdy power smash overshadowed her limitations in court coverage capabilities.

Indian Approach

India has a love for stroke-making. Even though it is aesthetically pleasing, it question the  practicality in World Badminton.

With the October ticks in, the Europe session starts. The badminton camp then comes back and does a wide India-hoping, visiting smallcities playing number of tournaments! But how that that judge their efficiency in slow courts!

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The slow courts host a major number of important international tournaments. With India not getting enough time their will never expire the frustration of them not getting medals.

Rookies like Priyanshu Rajawat will depend more on strokeplays like his ancestor Srikant used todo. Not failing the later, Rajawat will succumb to frustrating errors, missing points. Srikant had Son Wan-ho, but Rajawat will have way more equipped opponents-  Kunlavut Vitidsarn and of Kodai Naraoka.

Its high time for Indian to spend more time on slow courts, count quality over quantity, in order to not miss any well deserved title in fututre, 

Top-ranked Indian men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have overtaken Saina Nehwal's record for most weeks spent at number one by an Indian in the BWF World Rankings. 

Also Read: Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen qualifies for the Paris Olympics 2024

Satwik-Chirag have been at the top for 10 weeks in the BWF World Rankings. According to Olympics.com, Nehwal, who held the previous record, regained the top position on 18 August 2015 and remained there for nine weeks until 21 October 2015. 

The Indian pair, who have secured several historic BWF titles and other championship wins/medals since 2022, achieved the top position this year by reaching the finals of China Open, Malaysia Open and India Open. The French Open title win solidified their stronghold of the number one ranking in the BWF World Rankings. The ranking system takes into account the 10 highest-scoring events by a player/pair in the last 52 weeks.

SAT-CHI's domination at the top

Now, the Asian Games champions have 1,02,303 points on the leaderboard and are more than 5,000 points ahead of second-placed South Korean pair Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae. 

Earlier, Satwik-Chirag became the first Indian doubles pair to reach the top of the BWF World Rankings in October last year. They reached that position after their win at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. But they could remain at the top position only for three weeks. 

Also Read: 10 Inspiring Indian Sportswomen: International Women's Day Special

On the other hand, in men's singles, Kidambi Srikanth reached the top in April 2018 but could stay there only for a week. While legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone, who was the first Indian to clinch the prestigious All England Open title in 1980, was considered number one during his tenure, the computerized ranking point system came into the game much later.  

In the realm of sports, the journey of Indian badminton has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the years, the nation has witnessed the rise of several talented players who have conquered the international stage with their finesse and skill. Among these athletes, there are some who not only share a passion for badminton but have also found love in each other's company. These couples have not only excelled together on the court but have also built enduring partnerships off it. Let's delve into the stories of some of the most notable Indian badminton players who married each other.

Indian badminton players who married each other

Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap

Saina Nehwal, a former world number one and an Olympic bronze medalist, and Parupalli Kashyap, an accomplished badminton player himself, met during their training sessions at the Gopichand Academy. Their friendship blossomed into love, and they eventually tied the knot in 14 December 2018. Both have represented India in numerous international tournaments and have been a source of inspiration for aspiring shuttlers.

Everyone referred to this sensational couple as 'a match made in heaven' on social media. That is why they come at the first in that loveable list of Indian badminton players who married each other.

Also Read: Happy Valentine's Day: Top 8 Indian Sports Couples and their stories

Sikki Reddy and B. Sumeeth Reddy

Sikki Reddy, known for her prowess in doubles badminton, found her match in B. Sumeeth Reddy, a seasoned doubles player himself. They first met in 2001 at a badminton summer camp. Their partnership blossomed into love, and they eventually exchanged vows on 23 February 2019 in Hyderabad. Together, they navigate the highs and lows of professional badminton, drawing strength from each other's presence and unwavering support.

Pullela Gopichand and PVV Lakshmi

Other badminton players who married each other are Pullela Gopichand and PVV Lakshmi. In the annals of Indian badminton, few names resonate as profoundly as Pullela Gopichand, the iconic coach who has sculpted champions, and PVV Lakshmi, his steadfast partner who has stood by his side through triumphs and tribulations. Theirs is a tale of love, dedication, and shared passion for the sport that has defined their lives and united their hearts.

Gopichand married fellow badminton player PVV Lakshmi on 5 June 2002. They have two children, a daughter named Gayathri a son named Vishnu. Their daughter Gayathri w won the 2015 U-13 National Badminton Champion.

Arun Vishnu and Arundhati Pantawane

The fourth love birds who come at the fourth position in the list of Indian badminton players who married each other are Arun Vishnu and Arundhati Pantawane. Ranchi National Games gold medalist Arundhati of Nagpur and multiple national games double champion, Vishnu from Kerala tied the knot in Nagpur in 2017 after dating for five long years. They train at the Gopichand Academy and have represented India in a few tournaments. Arun Vishnu has coached the Chennai Smashers in PBL 2027 and is now a full time coach of Indian Badminton team.

Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Pradnya Gadre

The last but not least, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Pradnya Gadre are the another couple who come in the list of Indian badminton players who married each other. Pranaav and Pradnya married on 13 December 2017. They met on a badminton court, became friends and later went on to play mixed doubles together at various national and international tournaments.

Pranaav proposed Pradnya on the court with a shuttlecock and she readily accepted it. Now Pranaav continues to play mix doubles pairing Sikki Reddy whereas Pradnya is now a doubles coach at the Gopichand Academy.

Love, both on and off the field, has its own magic, and as we celebrate Valentine's Day, what better way to revel in the spirit of romance than by exploring the heartwarming tales of Indian sports couples? Beyond the victories and defeats, these athletes have found love in each other, creating a symphony of passion and companionship. In this special feature, we dive into the lives of the Top 8 Indian Sports Couples, unravelling their unique stories that go beyond the sports arena.

Top 10 Indian Sports Couples and their stories

Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap

The Indian badminton stars are one of the most prominent Indian Sports Couples. Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap met each other through badminton in 1997. But they started meeting each other in 2002 when they trained together in Hyderabad. They started dating in 2004 when they started training under Pullela Gopichand. Though at first, they decided to keep it a secret and appeared in public just as close friends. Finally, they broke out as a couple and got married in 2018.

"We dated for a long, long time. It was childish that we hid it from all our friends. We would be very secretive about it. We were shy and scared," Kashyap said about their early dating life. Both the badminton stars have been a motivating force for their partners through tough times with injuries and forms. Since mid-2018, Kashyap started coaching Saina as well. 

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Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal

Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal are one of Indian Sports Couples who do not belong to the same sports. Dinesh Karthik, a prominent name in Indian cricket and Dipika Pallikal, one of the best squash players in the country met each other in a gym. Dipika, who did not use to like cricketers due to their popularity, cleared his misconceptions about Indian Cricketers when she started having a friendship with Dinesh. Soon, they started going out and the friendship turned into love. 

On 15 November 2013, the couple made their relationship official with an engagement ceremony and later married in 2015 in Chennai. The couple now are blessed with two twin baby boys.

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Milkha Singh and Nirmal Kaur

Milkha Singha and Nirmal Kaur were probably the first-ever Indian Sports Couple. Mikha Singh, a sensational track and field athlete met Nirmal Kaur, the then captain of the Indian Volleyball Women's team during a tour in Sri Lanka. "It was in 1957 during the Indo-Ceylon sports meet that I met Nirmal for the first time," Milkha Singh had told The Tribune during an interview.

In 1962, Milkha Singh and Nirmal Kaur got married and they had three daughters and a son. India's golf sensation Jeev Milkha Singh is their son. Both Milkha Singh and Nirmal Kaur passed away in a difference of five days in 2021 due to Covid-19.

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Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari

The biggest names of Indian Archery, Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari first met each other in 2008 at Tata Academy in Jamshedpur. The early days of their relationship were filled with misunderstandings, communication gaps, and two big egos. Since Atanu was not very good with his Hindi, he never used to talk with Deepika in their early days. "He didn't know Hindi then, so he wouldn't talk to me," Deepika told Indian Express in an interview. 

Though they used to fight over small things during their time in training, the duo started liking each other during the 2017 World Championships and started going out shopping together. They got engaged the following year and tied the knot on 30 June 2020.

Also Read: Mohammed Shami Receives Arjuna Award; Badminton Duo Satwik & Chirag Collect the Khel Ratna Award

Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat

One of the biggest names in Indian Wrestling Bajrang Punia and Sangeet Phogat found their love in their profession. Both wrestlers first met each other at a wrestling camp in Sonepat and started liking each other. Bajrang would send his phone number to Sangeeta expecting to get a reply from her. However, Sangeeta did not reply to her. But, the next day they met each other in training and expressed liking for each other. The wrestlers got married in November 2020.

Pullela Gopichand and PVV Lakshmi

Pullela Gopichand, the backbone of the Indian badminton revolution found his love in the Badminton court itself. PVV Lakshmi, the 8-time national champion married Gopichand on June 5 2002. Gopichand rose to fame after winning the All England Badminton Championships in 2001 and won the Arjuna Award that year as well. Meanwhile, PVV Lakshmi was the first-ever Indian women shuttler to qualify for the Olympics. She featured in the 1992 & 1996 Olympics.

PVV Lakshmi stood as a pillar of strength for Gopichand when he started building the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. Lakshmi would help Pullela with some monetary help during their early days of building the academy. They even went on to mortgage their family home to raise money for the academy. They have two children, a daughter named Gayathri and a son named Vishnu. Gayathri is already a rising name in World Badminton.

Anju Bobby George and Robert Bobby George

The queen of Indian Athletics Anju Bobby George and former triple jump National champion come at number seven in our list of Indian Sports Couples. Anju Bobby George was the first Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships when she won the bronze in the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris. At that time Robert used to be her coach and after her historic medal in 2003, Robert won the Dronacharya award in 2004 as well.

Sakshi Malik and Satyawart Kadian

It looks like wrestlers find their love in their sport more than often. Sakshi Malik, the Rio Olympic Bronze Medal winner and Satyawart Kadian, a silver medalist in the 2014 Commonwealth Games used to go to the same school as teenagers. 

Though Satyawart used to be a heavyweight champion since his early days, she used to always shy away from Sakshi Malik, the star of his school. However, the two started bonding with time and supported each other in tough times. Satyawart missed the Rio Olympics berth by one second but kept on supporting Sakshi even though he was having a tough time personally. They both tied the knot in 2017 after Sakshi's historical medal in 2016.