The veneer of stardom doesn’t sit comfortably on many successful sportspersons. That however, is not the case of Saina Nehwal, the ace badminton player and one of India’s foremost successes in a sporting scene otherwise dominated by cricket. At an event organised by Omega, the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, the 26-year-old spoke of off-court matters off court. Excerpts:
How is the life of a sportswoman amid all the attention?
Not easy. Not only for sportspersons, but for anyone. You have reached this level by working very hard. You are happy with everything. But it is very difficult to stay there. Many things distract you. It is important to remember that hard work is the key. I, for one, don’t want to give that up. I like being on the court for a lot of time. But I like the attention as well (smiles). When you are doing well, a lot of people are looking up to you.
Now so many youngsters are doing well in badminton. I am so very proud to be in this era of sport.
How do you explain this change? Back then sporting success was confined to the sporting arena. Now you are all over the billboards!
It is destiny. I never thought I would be endorsing so many products. It is because of my performances on the court. Maybe because of my looks as well (laughs). I have seen many top players, who have worked so hard, achieved many things and yet don’t get anything (in return). I feel bad. Now things are changing. Compared to 10 years ago, there are a lot of changes now. I am happy with all the attention I am getting.
When you say looks, how much of a stylist are you?
I was not. I have turned into one. I was so totally into badminton. Slowly things started changing.
People around me started saying ‘whenever you go to events you have to look good because you are a top player and everyone is looking at you. Please for us, try and change a bit!’
Who was the trigger?
Definitely my mother. And then my friends. ‘You look good when you try different styles.
Why don’t you try’, they would ask. ‘You get only a few events like this. Throughout the year you will be in your game outfit. Try something,’ they would say. That is how it changed.
How much of a foodie are you?
I love food. Aloo paratha is the first dish I eat whenever I am at home and whenever I win a tournament. I hardly get a chance to eat it in Bengaluru. My mother makes it the best. So whenever I go home, I request her to make it for me. I love ice-creams, chocolates and all junk food. But because of the game I have to be careful.
How do you unwind when on tour? Who are your friends?
Though badminton is an individual event, I never felt lonely because we are always a 15-to-20 member team. I try to take my parents to the tournaments. So they are always there. But the whole day goes into matches and then recovery. And also The Kapil Sharma Show. Nowadays I don’t have the time to chat because the whole day goes into these things.
What role does social media play in your life?
I am on social media not as a player or a star, but as a normal person. I want to do like regular people — be happy posting pictures and not think about what people will comment. I don’t care. It is to share the good moments I have, on court, with parents, with friends...
How transformative a force can sports be in society and especially for women?
When women started playing, many people used to say, ‘Ladki kya karlegi'? But I used feel, ‘When boys can, why can’t I?’ I used to run with them, compete with them... And most of the times I used to run longer distances than them. I liked it.
We can also achieve things. Look at Serena Williams. We have the talent. Maybe some girls are scared. ‘What will people say? Best is to be an engineer or a doctor.’ We have so many of them. Well even I wanted to be a doctor once. But in sports we are still lacking. So I want more to come out and do well in different sports. Earlier in India maybe we lacked the belief.
But now it is changing. It is very positive. Look at a sport like boxing. It is very tough. But girls are getting inspired by Mary (Kom) and it is great to see.
