Saina Nehwal Defends Herself Against Trolls Over Neeraj Chopra Olympics Comment, Emphasizes the Challenges of Indian Athletes
Saina Nehwal recently found herself at the heart of social media controversy. During a candid podcast, she admitted that she only discovered Neeraj Chopra‘s Olympic event after his gold-medal win in Tokyo. This honest admission quickly sparked a storm. Trolls dubbed her the “Kangana Ranaut of sports,” drawing unexpected parallels.
“When Neeraj Chopra won gold in 2021, I realized there’s such an event in athletics,” Saina Nehwal revealed. While she spoke with honesty, social media took her words and ran with them. Criticism poured in, but Saina Nehwal didn’t back down.
Saina Nehwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to set the record straight. “Thanks for the compliment… Kangana is beautiful… But I had to be perfect in my sport. I proudly achieved world number one and an Olympic medal for my country,” she wrote.
She didn’t stop there. Saina Nehwal addressed her critics head-on: “Sitting at home and commenting is easy, but playing sports isn’t. Neeraj Chopra is our superstar, and he made the sport popular in India.”
This isn’t the first time Saina Nehwal has faced online backlash. Previously, she was criticized for comments comparing cricket and badminton. In response to a jibe about Indian cricket star Jasprit Bumrah, Saina Nehwal stated, “Why would I face Jasprit Bumrah anyway? If he played badminton with me, he might not take my smash. We shouldn’t fight among ourselves in our own country over these things.”
Her words called for unity and mutual respect among athletes. “Give value to other sports as well,” she urged, “Otherwise, where will our sporting culture come from?”
Saina Nehwal‘s experiences highlight the dominance of certain sports in India. While cricket captures the spotlight, sports like badminton and athletics often struggle for attention. However, Neeraj Chopra‘s gold in the Neeraj Chopra Olympics marked a significant moment for Indian athletics.
As we look ahead to the 2024 Summer Olympics, where Neeraj Chopra is expected to compete again, it’s crucial to celebrate the diversity of sports. The Olympics 2024 will feature new events like surfing under the Surfing Olympics 2024 category, showcasing the evolving nature of global competition.
Saina Nehwal remains one of India’s greatest athletes. Her legacy speaks volumes, but her interactions with social media trolls reveal the challenges athletes face today. As India grows as a sporting nation, we must ensure that all sports receive the recognition they deserve. Saina Nehwal‘s call for unity and respect among athletes should inspire a cultural shift towards valuing every athletic achievement.
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