Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has been in ‘tears’ after it was announced that she will not travel to Birmingham later this month to represent India in the Commonwealth Games. Saina’s husband Parupalli Kashyap exploded in anger as he said that the news of her non-selection has adversely impacted the Olympic medallist shuttler.
This was after the Badminton Association of India announced the names of the Indian contingent for the Commonwealth Games.
Kashyap told Indian Express, “It’s about the amount of disrespect shown to a player. It’s about your own people treating you like s***. She’s been in tears often, and the issue of non-selection crops up in conversations every second day when she speaks. It’s very very tough to even practice, and you are not sure, mentally, whether you are preparing to fight your own people or opponents. Your intentions in the match go all wrong in such times, and it’s a terrible mind space.”
The BAI in April had announced the names of the Indian contingent for the Commonwealth Games. PV Sindhu, Aakarshi Kashyap, Gayatri Gopichand, Treesa Jolly and Ashwini Ponnappa will be representing India in the women’s category. Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwik Sairaj Chirag Shetty and Summeth Reddy will be aiming to win medals for India in the men’s category.
Saina’s husband added, “It’s a wrong notion that she’s arrogant because she doesn’t talk that much. She just minds her own business. No doubt what happened spurred her on, but this situation was not required. They should’ve given her minimum respect of (having) a chat. If you want to be strict, I understand, but a simple chat is not a free ride. You could’ve disciplined her in a chat, speaking to her. No one replied to her messages. It’s extremely hurtful.”
Sindhu has already brightened India’s medal prospects by storming into the final of the Singapore Open. Saina, on the other hand, has been knocked out of the competition.
Saina had officially joined the BJP last year.
