Rising badminton star Saumya Goyal has tackled life’s challenges with the same determination she shows on the court. From fighting for her dreams to overcoming health issues, the international athlete shares her inspiring journey with India TV. Life presents its trials, and Saumya has chosen to confront them head-on.
Born into a business family, Saumya faced numerous hurdles—from pursuing her passion for badminton to managing her education. She recounts to India TV how deeply she loves the sport, recalling a time when she locked herself in a room for four days, foregoing food, just to chase her dream.
After completing her 12th grade, Saumya wanted to dedicate a year to badminton, but her parents had different plans, encouraging her to pursue a degree in London. However, her passion for the sport, ignited at age three by her grandmother Rashmi Arya—who was part of India’s first women’s cricket team—drove her to request a gap year to focus solely on badminton.
Though she faced initial resistance from her father, he eventually agreed. Just as she thought she had overcome one challenge, another arose: an ankle injury that left her sidelined for months. “It’s ironic,” Saumya reflects. “That year I dedicated to training turned into a struggle. I twisted my ankle and tore my ATFL. With my condition of hypermobility, an injury that typically heals in weeks took me eight months.”
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Saumya’s determination didn’t waver. Following her recovery, she moved to Hyderabad for training, but once her gap year ended, she had to honor her father’s wishes and travel to London for her law degree. “I’m currently in my third year in England,” she shares. “After that gap year, my parents insisted on a degree, but they also supported my continued pursuit of badminton.”
Living alone in England posed its own challenges. “The first year was tough. My academy is two hours away, and my training sessions typically ran from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM. I’d leave home at 5:00 PM, train, then return by midnight to prepare dinner and tackle college assignments. I often went to bed around 3:00 or 4:00 AM and woke up by 9:00 AM for classes. It was a constant juggling act,” she says.
Saumya represented England at the Austria Open, her first international competition, but her heart remains set on playing for India. “I want to represent India. When I played for England, I felt out of place. It was challenging to return home to compete in Indian tournaments regularly, but this is my last year in England. After that, my goal is to don the Indian jersey proudly,” she asserts.
Ultimately, Saumya dreams of competing in the Olympics and winning a gold medal, fully aware that she must continue to fight and overcome every obstacle in her path, just as she has done thus far.
