Saina Nehwal candidly addressed the disparity in attention between cricket and other sports in India.
Last month, Team India broke an 11-year ICC title drought by defeating South Africa in the T20 World Cup final held in Barbados. This long-awaited victory ignited nationwide celebrations, with jubilant fans taking to the streets to express their joy and pride.
To honor the team’s remarkable achievement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a substantial prize of INR 125 crore to be shared among the World Cup-winning players. This generous reward underscores the significance of their triumph and the hard work and dedication they displayed throughout the tournament.
In addition to the BCCI’s recognition, various state governments also declared cash rewards for the players, further celebrating their success and contribution to Indian sports. This collective acknowledgment not only highlights the players’ excellence on the field but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the nation. The victory not only ended a decade-long wait but also reinforced India’s prowess in cricket on the global stage.
The Maharashtra government’s decision to award cash rewards exclusively to their state cricketers drew criticism from prominent Indian badminton player Chirag Shetty. He argued that athletes from other sports also deserve recognition for their achievements. Echoing this sentiment, fellow shuttler Saina Nehwal expressed her concerns about the disproportionate attention and rewards cricket receives compared to other sports. Both athletes highlighted the need for more equitable recognition across all sporting disciplines in India.
She emphasized that athletes in various other disciplines are more physically demanding and deserve similar recognition and support.
“Everyone wants to know what I am doing, what wrestlers and boxers are doing, and what Neeraj Chopra is doing. These sportspeople are well-known because they consistently perform and make headlines. It’s a dream come true that I achieved this in India, a country with minimal sporting culture,” Saina said on the Nikhil Simha podcast.
“Sometimes, I feel bad that cricket gets all the attention. If you look at sports like badminton, basketball, and tennis, they are so physically demanding. You don’t even have time to catch your breath before picking up the shuttle and serving again. Cricket, on the other hand, receives so much attention, even though I believe skill is more crucial in those physically demanding sports,” Saina stated.
She also noted that criticizing cricket would have little impact on its popularity in India, given the sport’s unshakable place in the hearts of the people.
“Even if I say bad things about cricket, it will remain loved by everyone. I love cricket, but other sports deserve similar attention. Without this, how can India become a true sporting nation and compete with countries like China to win 60 Olympic medals? It will always be cricket if this disparity continues,” Saina added.
Nehwal made history as the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal, securing bronze in women’s singles at the 2012 London Games. She is also the first Indian woman to attain the world’s number-one ranking in badminton.
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