'Can't wait to smash that shuttle': Badminton star pines for action amid COVID-19

KARACHI: The global lockdown to avoid the spread of coronavirus in various countries has also halted sports activities around the world. Athletes all over are eagerly waiting to be back in action.

Pakistan's badminton icon, Palwasha Bashir, is one of them.

Talking to Geo.tv, 32-year-old Bashir stated that she is missing the badminton court and can't wait to smash the shuttle once again.

"I am missing the badminton court. I miss that feeling of holding the racket, miss that sound while smashing the shuttle, and the squeaking of shoes while playing on the court. I can't wait to get it all back," she said.

"Once this is over, the first thing I will do is rush to the badminton court and smash the shuttle as I have never smashed it before," added Bashir.

The South Asian Games medalist said that she is spending most of her time at home and following her coach's instructions on training indoors.

"I am doing my workout at home as all the clubs and gyms are shutdown. I have limited space and limited equipment at home. My coach continues to guide me online and I am following his instructions by doing some weight exercises or a bit of skipping. Obviously, it is not as productive as it would have been on the court but something is better than nothing," she said.

Bashir was all praise for health workers who are working as "frontline soldiers" in this pandemic, saying that those who are working at the frontline "are risking their life to secure ours".

"Kudos to them," she said.

The badminton star hoped for things to get normalised soon but added that the last few weeks have taught her some important life lessons.

"This lockdown and the overall situation has allowed me to reflect on life and taught me about personal discovery. I have realised that we shouldn't take life for granted. This [crisis] goes to show that nothing can be taken for granted," said Bashir.