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Indian badminton legend Saina Nehwal has announced her retirement from competitive badminton, citing chronic knee injuries that made elite-level training impossible. The 2012 London Olympic bronze medallist last competed in the 2023 Singapore Open but had already stopped playing two years ago.
Olympic Medallist Saina Nehwal Ends Stellar Career Due to Knee Injuries
New Delhi: Big news has emerged from the Indian sports world. Olympic medalist badminton player Saina Nehwal has confirmed her retirement from competitive badminton. Saina, who has long struggled with injuries and fitness issues, stated that her body is no longer able to handle the demands of elite-level play.
Saina revealed in a podcast that she had stopped playing nearly two years ago. Her last competitive match was at the 2023 Singapore Open. However, she did not formally announce her retirement at that time. Saina said, "I started playing on my own terms and retired on my own terms. I felt there was no need to make a separate announcement."
Sharing her thoughts on retirement, Saina stated quite clearly, "If you're not able to play anymore, it's okay. It's absolutely fine." She believed that her absence from the field would automatically make it clear that she was no longer a part of competitive sports.
Saina explained that her knee condition had deteriorated significantly. Doctors told her that the cartilage in her knees had completely worn out and she had developed arthritis. She said that her parents and coach should have known about this, so she clearly stated that she could no longer train as before.
She explained that she once trained 8 to 9 hours a day, which is necessary to become the best at the world level. But now, her knees would swell after even 1-2 hours of light training. It was no longer possible for her to continue pushing herself.
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Saina's career was severely impacted by a serious knee injury she suffered during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Although she made a remarkable comeback, winning a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, recurring knee problems continued to hamper her performance.
The retirement of Saina Nehwal, who paved the way for a new generation in Indian badminton, marks the end of an era. She not only won medals but also played a key role in bringing Indian badminton to global recognition.
