Saina Nehwal Explains Why She Threatened to Pull Out of CWG

This is not about money, it’s about respect, says Saina Nehwal.

File photo of Saina Nehwal.

(Photo: Reuters)

Hours after star shuttler Saina Nehwal threatened to pull out of the Commonwealth Games over her father's name being dropped from the Indian team's official list, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Tuesday cleared Harvir Singh's CWG accreditation.

Saina had earlier written an email to the IOA threatening to pull out of the CWG if her demand for clearing her father was not met.

However, Nehwal faced backlash from fans for potentially jeopardising a major competition.

The badminton explained her stance while speaking with The Indian Express:

I had made the payment and booked tickets for my father. The federation or the IOA confirmed to me that it’s sorted out. When you tell me something, and when I am paying you the whole thing, but this is not about money, it is about respect. Imagine if your parent is there with you and made to look for a place to stay at midnight.

Saina Nehwal

In her complaint to the IOA, Nehwal had said she should have been informed about her father’s accreditation status in advance. The 28-year-old expressed that her threat to pull out of CWG was an emotional decision.

If you want to say Saina is bad, then I am bad, for my parents. All this wouldn’t have happened if they (IOA) had sorted out the issue. There wouldn’t have been any controversy. My father’s name was cut after we reached here and the chef de mission had signed on the paper. I was patient and pleaded for two days. I lost my cool, how much longer would I wait? I’d made all the arrangements. I paid for his accreditation. Why make him struggle? Make me struggle. This is about respect.

Saina Nehwal told <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/commonwealth-games/commonwealth-games-2018-saina-nehwal-makes-her-point-pullout-threat-about-respect-not-cash-5125588/"><i>The Indian Express</i></a>

Nehwal is of the view that athletes should pay for their parents’ expenses, but the parent should be allowed to stay in the village.

I think it’s not an issue at all. We should pay for our parents, which I totally agree. But I feel they have made us what we are. Our parents are the number one officials for us, then the others. I don’t even care who the other official is. They (parents) are the first ones who have been looking after you since childhood. I am nobody without them. They made me, so I am more than happy to fight for them. I have not done anything wrong. I have done what I had to do. I asked for what they (IOA) promised me. I didn’t do anything extra.

Saina Nehwal told <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/commonwealth-games/commonwealth-games-2018-saina-nehwal-makes-her-point-pullout-threat-about-respect-not-cash-5125588/"><i>The Indian Express</i></a>

However, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said that Nehwal’s father was not given assurance about stay in the athletes’ village.

The AUD 1,480 does not guarantee a bed inside the village, it only allows visiting and food expenses. We had informed all federations about this policy several times. It was their duty to inform the athletes. Plus, the organising committee decides the quota of the number of officials who can stay overnight in the village. We followed the procedure laid down by the organisers.

Rajeev Mehta told <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/commonwealth-games/commonwealth-games-2018-saina-nehwal-makes-her-point-pullout-threat-about-respect-not-cash-5125588/"><i>The Indian Express</i></a>

(With inputs from IANS)