Delhi [India], January 24 (HBTV): Olympic medallist and former world number one Saina Nehwal has announced her retirement from competitive badminton, bringing an end to a trailblazing career after a prolonged battle with serious knee injuries.
One of India’s most celebrated sportspersons, Nehwal has been inactive for nearly two years due to chronic knee problems, including cartilage degeneration and arthritis, which made sustained high-intensity training impossible. She said elite-level badminton demands eight to nine hours of training daily, but persistent pain and swelling meant her body could no longer cope beyond one or two hours.
Her decision underscores the physical toll of professional sport and the challenges faced by athletes dealing with long-term injuries, particularly at the highest level of competition.
Nehwal scripted history at the London 2012 Olympics by winning a bronze medal in women’s singles, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in badminton. The achievement altered perceptions of the sport in India and inspired a new generation of players, laying the foundation for the country’s emergence as a global badminton force.
In 2015, she reached the pinnacle of the sport by becoming world number one, making her only the second Indian after Prakash Padukone to achieve the feat. Her career highlights include winning the Indonesia Open Super Series in 2009, the first BWF Super Series title by an Indian, along with Commonwealth Games gold medals and multiple international titles over more than a decade at the top.
Despite recurring injuries and a disappointing campaign at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Nehwal remained known for her resilience. She won silver at the BWF World Championships in 2015, followed by a bronze in 2017, and returned to the top by clinching gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Her contribution to Indian sport has been recognised with major national honours, including the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award. Beyond medals and rankings, Nehwal’s lasting legacy lies in inspiring young athletes, particularly women, to pursue badminton professionally and in paving the way for future Indian champions.
Indian sports fraternity pays tribute as Saina Nehwal retires from badminton
Tributes poured in from across the Indian sporting community following the announcement of badminton icon Saina Nehwal’s retirement, with leading athletes hailing her for transforming the sport in the country and inspiring generations.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli congratulated the London Olympics bronze medallist for her illustrious career, saying her achievements placed Indian badminton firmly on the global stage.
‘Congratulations @NSaina on a legendary career that put Indian badminton on the world stage. Wishing you a happy, fulfilling, and well-deserved retirement. India is proud,’ Kohli wrote on X.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also lauded Nehwal’s journey, describing her career as a lesson in perseverance and belief.
‘Dear Saina, your career is proof that greatness is built one day at a time, with patience, courage, and consistency,’ Tendulkar said in a post on X. ‘You carried Indian badminton to the world stage and showed that belief, when matched with preparation, can change the course of a sport.’
He added that Nehwal’s greatest achievement went beyond medals and titles. ‘Beyond the medals lies your greatest achievement — inspiring young athletes across the country to believe that global success is possible. While one phase ends, another begins, where your experience and love for the game will continue to guide many. Your influence will be felt for generations,’ he said.
Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who succeeded Nehwal as India’s leading women’s badminton player, also paid tribute to her predecessor’s contribution to the sport.
‘Wishing you a happy retirement, @NSaina. Thank you for everything you’ve contributed to Indian badminton. Wishing you peace, happiness, and the very best in this next phase of life,’ Sindhu wrote.
Nehwal’s retirement marks the end of a pioneering era in Indian badminton, with athletes across disciplines acknowledging her role in elevating the sport and opening pathways for future champions.
(Inputs from Current Affairs)