Badminton star Saina Nehwal is an inspiration to many in the country. While her success on the court is celebrated with pride, not many know that it takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice and willpower to get to where she is today. It includes working out every day and maintaining a strict diet.
In an interview with Fit Tak, Saina opened up about taking fitness seriously. She said, “My training session would be for 8 to 10 hours. You want to do it every day, it becomes your life because you enjoy it. And the results are motivating.” For young players, she advised lifting heavy, doing sprints, and running on incliners.
For office-goers and school-going children, the athlete suggested playing any sport or walking on an inclined treadmill to burn more calories in less time. She added that a 20-30 minute run is also effective, more fun, and helps improve sleep.
Saina dismissed the myth that lifting weights is not for women. She said she was also scared at one point but worked with her trainer and gradually progressed to lifting heavy weights. She emphasised the importance of staying focused at the gym to avoid injuries. For her, weights are the only way to build strength.
The badminton player also spoke about her diet, saying, “As players, you have to be extra careful with your diet. There’s stiff competition.” She recalled that during her matches, her coach would monitor her diet and reprimand her for cheating. It was different on days she won a match, when she could enjoy a small treat.
Saina suggested that women should make time for the gym and eat healthy on most days. She said, “You can cheat but make the habit of working out every day.” She shared that an hour at the gym can be beneficial as it leads to less guilt and more joy.
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