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Nehwal believes the BWF needs to prioritise player welfare, noting that the busy calendar leaves little room for recovery and can lead to injuries and player burnout.
Saina Nehwal. (Picture credit: AFP)
Former Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal believes the BWF needs to prioritise player welfare, noting that the busy international calendar leaves little room for recovery and can lead to injuries and burnout among elite shuttlers.
“Badminton is always a very tough sport both physically and mentally. The rallies are longer, the speed of the game is higher, and players are competing in tournaments nearly every week.”
“The BWF has tried to structure the calendar, but from a player’s perspective, recovery time is extremely important. Injuries and fatigue can affect performance and also shorten careers.”
“I feel the schedule should allow better recovery periods between major tournaments, and teams should have more support for sports science and rehabilitation.”
The 35-year-old from Hyderabad is also impressed with the performance of young Indian shuttlers but stated that physical strength, match temperament, and tactical awareness are key to consistency.
Consistency at the top level comes from fitness, discipline, and mental toughness over many years. Players need to maintain their level across the entire season, not just in a few tournaments, said the former world No. 1.
When PV Sindhu and I were competing regularly, the focus was always on preparation, recovery, and staying hungry to improve.
For the current generation, the key is to keep improving their physical strength, match temperament, and tactical awareness so they can perform consistently in the biggest tournaments.
Explaining her decision to associate with I.I.M.U.N, Saina, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, said: I’ve always believed that sports teach values like discipline, leadership, and resilience, which are also important in life.
Being part of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N) is special because it gives young people a platform to think globally, develop leadership skills, and express their ideas confidently.
If my journey can inspire young students to believe in themselves and work hard toward their goals, I feel that would be a meaningful contribution.
March 14, 2026, 16:30 IST
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