![ELLE IMPACT ELLE IMPACT](https://cdn.magzter.com/1384767890/1715862823/articles/eVc9YP-E61715937951669/ELLE-IMPACT.jpg)
Saina NEHWAL
Plagued by uncertainties and the daunting prospect of injuries disrupting one's uphill trajectory, the life of a sportsperson is not for the faint hearted. Enter Saina Nehwal, the first badminton player from India to clinch an Olympic medal. Her indomitable spirit and record-breaking stats lent the sport of badminton an entirely new direction in our nation, in turn inspiring millions of girls to tread down the path less traversed. Here's our conversation with the illustrious sports personality.
ELLE: What strategies do you employ to maintain physical and mental well-being during intensive training sessions?
Saina Nehwal (SN): In sports, you're pushing yourself physically for almost 8 to 10 hours a day. We need to be really careful of what we are eating, make sure we rest well, get good massages and create good conditions to allow for training of the body. This is essential to move freely and without injuries. We also play long hours and we've to keep our mind focused. You have to be ready to do that six days a week.
ELLE: In the competitive world of sports, how have your female friendships changed your life for the better?
SN: I play an individual sport so it's hard to make friends and tougher to keep them. When you're playing for so many hours, you hardly get time to go out much or communicate with too many people. Badminton is always on my mind. However, my biggest support systems are my mom and my sister.
ELLE: How do you regulate your mental health and not let it deteriorate despite the many hurdles life throws at you?
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av Elle India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av Elle India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![A Celebration Of SPANISH CULTURE A Celebration Of SPANISH CULTURE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/2FuzKeDGx1736946455359/A-CELEBRATION-OF-SPANISH-CULTURE.jpg)
A Celebration Of SPANISH CULTURE
LOUIS VUITTON Cruise 2025 - Creative director Nicolas Ghesquière explores themes of identity & expression against the stimulating backdrop of Gaudi's Barcelona notes Anamm Inamdar
![THE VISIONARY BEHIND YOUR CHOOS THE VISIONARY BEHIND YOUR CHOOS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/olZtZSb-T1736945343255/THE-VISIONARY-BEHIND-YOUR-CHOOS.jpg)
THE VISIONARY BEHIND YOUR CHOOS
Sandra Choi in conversation with Zoha Castelino on creativity, collaboration & legacy
![Bhopal's Begums Bhopal's Begums](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/v3yXgKZOU1736945933264/BHOPALS-BEGUMS.jpg)
Bhopal's Begums
Shweta Vepa Vyas discovers how these trailblazing royal women wielded fashion as a statement of power F independence
![INSIDE Out INSIDE Out](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/5vITiwH0r1736946284513/INSIDE-OUT.jpg)
INSIDE Out
Indian couturiers are referencing folklore figures & mysticism to get in touch with their inner selves and create from there reports Manish Mishra
!['I hope you dance' 'I hope you dance'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/xDy0aakK31736944587416/I-HOPE-YOU-DANCE.jpg)
'I hope you dance'
Fashion industry friends remember the legend that was Rohit Bal
![CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/pyWHSAY3v1736945468244/CLOSET-CONFIDENTIAL.jpg)
CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL
Praachi Raniwala rummages through the wardrobes of leading Indian designers to find their favourite homegrown labels
![BREAKING BOUNDARIES WITH RASTAH BREAKING BOUNDARIES WITH RASTAH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/P6JdwYyWz1736945076026/BREAKING-BOUNDARIES-WITH-RASTAH.jpg)
BREAKING BOUNDARIES WITH RASTAH
Designer Zain Ahmad in conversation with Shaeroy Chinoy
![A Symphony of Soft Power A Symphony of Soft Power](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/gkzdIX5ZB1736946791684/A-SYMPHONY-OF-SOFT-POWER.jpg)
A Symphony of Soft Power
The collection seeks to reinterpret femininity at the intersection of art & fashion finds Anamm Inamdar
![LIGHTS, CAMERA, CANNES! LIGHTS, CAMERA, CANNES!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/KpgyTNqP41736945658930/LIGHTS-CAMERA-CANNES.jpg)
LIGHTS, CAMERA, CANNES!
Filmmaker Payal Kapadia, in conversation with Ekta Sinha on how she brings to life her unique female perspective
![PEAKS to PALMS PEAKS to PALMS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4930/1957271/Iysam1R0h1736945233912/PEAKS-TO-PALMS.jpg)
PEAKS to PALMS
Slink Bardot takes you on a culinary journey across India with its new menu, reports Soha Borgaonkar