Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard: Saina Nehwal
From Haryana to Hyderabad: Destiny with a side of discipline
'I didn't set out to be anything. I just loved working hard,' Saina said, recalling how life changed overnight when her father got a promotion and the family moved from Haryana to Hyderabad. What started as a girl simply playing for fun turned into a journey of endless bus rides, crack-of-dawn wake-up calls, and training miles away from home. There was no master plan, no prophecy—just a mother's unwavering belief. 'My mother decided I'd be an Olympian when I was nine. I laughed. She didn't.' It turns out mum knew best.
More than talent, tenacity matters
Saina is under no illusion about her path. 'I'm not someone like Federer or Tiger Woods. I didn't have that kind of wrist. So I decided, if they train six hours, I'll train ten.' If there was ever a philosophy to pin on your wall (or locker), this was it. Her daily grind involved 25-km commutes (twice a day), training, school, more training. Sleep, repeat. And somewhere in that blur of shuttles and sweat, history was made: Super Series titles, World Championship medals, Olympic glory.
The Steffi Graf connection
Before badminton, there was karate. 'I'm a brown belt, but getting hit every day wasn't fun at eight,' Saina confessed with a grin. Cue mum's love for tennis and Steffi Graf, and Saina's eventual nickname—Steffi. 'In Haryana, they still call me Steffi,' she laughed. Her entry into badminton was as accidental as it was magical. 'The first shot I played was a smash. Even I was shocked!' Fate, it seems, had a wicked sense of timing.
The hidden cost of each medals
Behind the medals stood sacrifices most can only imagine. The family took loans to afford equipment and air tickets so Saina could compete without the fatigue of long train journeys. 'My father never let me see the struggles until I was 18,' she shared. And yet, even as she rose through the ranks, Saina never let comfort dull her hunger. From ice baths she loathed to missing movies and shopping trips, it was all part of the package. 'You hate everything at some point—the routine, the sacrifices—but when you're on that podium, nothing else matters.'
Beating the boys, not chasing the stars
Role models? 'I didn't have any. I just wanted to beat the boys in training,' she said. While the world fawned over sports idols, Saina's world was simpler: work harder, run longer, lift heavier. Only later did she become a fan of Roger Federer and Serena Williams. But if you ask her about her ultimate inspiration, she doesn't blink: 'My mom. She was the one who believed first.'
Box: From Badshah to India's President: Saina's unforgettable matches
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