Menstrual cramps crushes China's Qinwen Zheng's French Open dream

Paris: Qinwen Zheng, Chinese tennis player had to bid an early end to French Open as she was unexpectedly struck with severe menstrual cramps and a leg injury. She had to call for a medical time out during the second set against world no 1, Poland's Iga Swiatek.

Although Zheng, ranking at 74 in the world, had a great start, where she managed to shock the audience by claiming a tie in the opening set, she soon succumbed to injury and conceded to Swiatek in the other sets to a 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 defeat.

She was at her top condition during the first set, according to CNN, but had to call for medical time out at a 3-0 in the second set to strap her injured leg.

"Yeah, the leg was also tough. That compared to the stomach was easy…I cannot play my tennis, (my) stomach was too painful," Zheng, 19, said speaking to reporters after the game.

"It's just girls' things, you know. The first day is always so tough and then I have to do sport and I always have so much pain in the first day. And I couldn't go against my nature", she added referring to her menstrual cramps.

"I wish I can be a man on court, but I cannot in that moment…I really wish I can be (a) man (so) that I don't have to suffer from this."

Zheng said that she had enjoyed playing against Swiatek, adding, "If I don't have my stomach (pain) I think I could enjoy more, like to run better and to hit harder, to give more effort on court. It's a pity that I couldn't give what I want to give today. I just want (it so that) next time I play against her, I (am in) perfect shape."

According to an Ayurveda Doctor (BAMS) at Kerala Ayurveda Ltd Dr Archana Sukumaran, "Painful menstruation or cramps is medically known as dysmenorrhea, peaking during the first two days of menstruation. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, backache, indigestion, and disturbed sleep."

Earlier, Lilly Singh, a Canadian comedian and YouTuber had spoken to her audience about this common ailment tha affected almost all women, and she opened up about her own period pain experience, according to the Indian Express.

"My period has always been painful. In school, it was the reason I missed so many classes. And even though with age the symptoms have chilled out a bit, it's still quite unpleasant," she had written, sharing a picture of herself sitting on a bed, using a heating pad to ease the cramps.