The legendary player of Indian badminton, Saina Nehwal, has put an end to her competitive career, thereby bringing to an end the most spectacular chapter in Indian sports. The bronze medalist from the 2012 Olympics has not taken part in any official match since the 2023 Singapore Open, and his absence is due to a chronic knee problem.
The decision of the 35-year-old is based on a very painful medical condition. The ex-number-one player in the world said she was in a very painful situation because the degeneration of her knee had reached such a point that she could not even do training at high intensity for a very short period of time. In fact, her knee was giving way in one or two hours, while a world-class athlete typically has to train for eight to nine hours, and the swelling would make it very hard to continue.
Saina’s retirement was typical of her. She thought she could come to the sport and also leave it without the loud announcement. Her easy-going exit is just a reflection of the elegance that she displayed throughout her career.
She was the tri-Olympic representative of India and won the bronze medal in her second appearance at the London 2012 games. That landmark feat saw her become the first in the history of Indian badminton to win an Olympic medal. Just 22, she won India’s first Olympic medal in the women’s singles event in badminton, followed by silver at the 2015 World Championships and bronze at the 2017 World Championships.
The knee injury that Saina sustained in the Rio 2016 Olympics was a major setback in her career. However, she did not lose her momentum, and she went on to win the bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. But her progress was still hampered by the persisting knee issues.
Nehwal is regarded as one of the most successful badminton players in India and has been recognized for popularizing the game in the country. Her legacy is not only about medals and rankings; she has inspired a whole generation of Indian sportspeople and paved the way for future champions in the game she loved.
