Saina Nehwal Inspires Young Badminton Players During Surprise Visit to Panchkula

Former World No. 1 badminton player Saina Nehwal made a surprise visit to Panchkula, where she interacted with young shuttlers and shared her insights on the importance of sports. During her visit, she emphasized the need for parents to limit children's mobile phone usage and encourage physical activity. Saina also praised current badminton stars and called for more leagues to foster interest in the sport. Her reflections on the dedication required to succeed in sports and the need for improvement in Indian badminton resonated with the audience, making her visit a memorable one.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 25, 2026, 01:59 IST

Saina Nehwal's Surprise Visit to Panchkula

On Sunday, former World No. 1 badminton player and Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal delighted fans in the Tricity with an unexpected visit to Panchkula, where she engaged with aspiring badminton players.

The 36-year-old athlete was in town to open a sports showroom in Sector 20. During her visit, she reminisced about her early days in Panchkula, recalling her participation in a tournament at the age of 13, which she won.

Concerned about the rising trend of mobile phone usage among children, Saina urged parents to motivate their kids to engage more in sports and fitness activities. She stated, “With so many distractions today, I encourage parents to limit their children's screen time and promote running and exercising. Kids are becoming more fragile, and they need to put in the effort.”

Confidently, Saina declared badminton as the second most popular sport in India, following cricket. She praised players like PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and H. S. Prannoy for their impressive performances and expressed optimism for their future achievements.

Discussing the impact of sports icons on fans, she remarked, “Achieving superstar status is no easy feat; it requires years of dedication. I spent 10 to 15 years working hard to reach this level. My coach, Pullela Gopichand, dedicated countless hours to training players, often from 3 am to 8 pm.”

Saina also emphasized the need for more badminton leagues to maintain children's interest in the sport and encourage new talent to emerge.

While acknowledging the progress of Indian badminton, she noted that certain areas require improvement to replicate past successes. “We need to correct the mistakes we are currently making. Although players are performing well, we must strive for even better results,” she concluded.