Badminton star Saina Nehwal announces retirement

India's ace badminton player and Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal has officially announced her retirement from professional sports. She had been away from the court for the past two years due to severe knee pain and continuous injuries, after which she made the difficult decision to bid farewell to the game.

Saina Nehwal, who won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, last participated in the 2023 Singapore Open. On Monday, during a podcast by Subhajit Ghosh, she confirmed her retirement, saying she had been away from the game for quite some time, but did not feel the need to make a public announcement.

Saina said, "I stopped playing two years ago. I believe I came into this sport on my own terms and I am leaving it on my own terms, so I didn't feel the need for a big announcement."

The former world number one player revealed that her knee cartilage has been severely affected, making her unable to undergo high-intensity training. She cited conversations with her parents and coach, stating that doctors had diagnosed her with 'arthritis'.

Saina said emotionally, "To become the best player in the world, you have to work hard for eight to nine hours every day, but my knee would give up after just one or two hours. Due to swelling, it was impossible to put more pressure, then I realized that enough was enough."

Saina Nehwal will be remembered as a 'trailblazer' in the history of Indian badminton. She became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal and also earned the distinction of being the first Indian woman to reach the number one position in world rankings in 2015.