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Xtra Time Web Desk: India’s badminton icon, Saina Nehwal, recently shared her thoughts on PV Sindhu's potential participation in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. Sindhu, who had aspirations of securing a third consecutive Olympic medal, faced a disappointing exit in the Round of 16 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she was defeated by China’s He Bingjiao with scores of 21-19, 21-14.

Reflecting on Sindhu's early exit, Nehwal acknowledged that Bingjiao was the superior player on the day but emphasized that Sindhu's determination alone won’t suffice for her to compete in the next Olympics.

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"Sindhu played well, but Bingjiao was a little better. It’s not just about the desire or the will to play; it’s about how your body will support you as you grow older. If your body supports you, you can play for as long as you want," Nehwal commented.

Nehwal, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, expressed her contentment with the emergence of young male talents like Lakshya Sen, who is making waves on the global stage. However, she pointed out that the progress among female badminton players in India has been slower. "Sindhu and I have worked hard for many years to popularize badminton in India.

While we see more young boys like Lakshya Sen rising and performing well, progress on the girls' side is taking time. But I believe we will see more players emerging in the future who can achieve success," Nehwal added.

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Lakshya Sen, a rising star in Indian badminton, made history by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to qualify for the semifinals at the Olympics. Despite his valiant efforts, he narrowly missed out on a medal, losing to defending champion Viktor Axelsen in straight games, 22-20, 21-14. In the bronze medal match, Sen initially dominated Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia, winning the first game 21-13. However, an arm injury caused him to lose momentum, resulting in a heartbreaking loss in the subsequent games, 16-21 and 11-21, thereby missing the bronze medal.

As the next generation of players like Sen rises, the future of Indian badminton appears promising, but as Nehwal highlighted, sustaining a career at the highest level requires more than just desire; it demands the body’s unwavering support.