‘Olympic level ke layak toh bano aap’, Saina Nehwal slams trolls ridiculing London Olympic bronze medal

New Delhi: Indian Badminton star Saina Nehwal was defending herself against the social media trolls. Over the last month or so, the shuttler has been engaging in a war of words with fans over various topics. Saina had made certain comments during the recently concluded Paris Olympics that got her into a bit of trouble with fans on the internet. During the talk, Saina’s husband Parupalli Kashyap brought up the topic, saying he read people think Saina was ‘gifted’ her bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games. She won bronze in London 2012 after beating China’s Wang Xin. Saina was trailing 0-1, 18-21 in the bronze medal match when Xin retired hurt due to a knee injury.

Fuming at the suggestion, Saina gave a fiery reply to those making such comments.

When she was asked about the social media trolls she said that those who think that way should become capable enough to qualify for the Olympic Games.

“During the Paris Olympics she had said something and in the comments (on social media) I was seeing people saying that she got gifted the bronze medal,” Kashyap said in an interview with actor Amrita Rao before Saina added her views.

“Olympic level ke layak toh bano aap. Forget the bronze medal. Pehle Olympics ke liye qualify toh karke dikhao (First you become capable to qualify for Olympics),” Saina said.

Saina Nehwal has been in the news consistently recently for her comments on various matters including saying that Vinesh Phogat should “take the blame too” for getting disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 and opining that Indian fast bowler Jassprit Bumrah will not be able to defend his smashes.

In fact, she had said that every sport has its own value and they should be given importance accordingly.

“If Jasprit Bumrah plays badminton with me maybe he won’t be able to take my smash. We should not fight with ourselves in our own country for these things. That’s what I want to say. Every sport is best in its place. But I want to say give value to other sports as well. Otherwise, where will we get sporting culture from? And cricket, Bollywood will always be our focus,” Nehwal said.