PETALING JAYA: After two years away from the sport, Indian women's singles shuttler Saina Nehwal has officially announced her retirement from badminton.
The 35-year-old former world No. 1 made the announcement during a podcast interview in India, explaining that long-standing injuries prevented her from returning to competitive action.
Saina, who was also the 2015 World Championships silver medallist, added that she has been battling a chronic knee condition and felt the time had come to hang up her racquet, as her body was no longer able to cope as it did during her prime.
Last year, Saina revealed that she was suffering from arthritis and complete cartilage wear in her knees.
"I had stopped playing two years back. I entered the sport on my own terms and left on my own terms, so there was no need to announce it. If you are not capable of playing anymore, that’s it. It’s fine.
"I told my parents and coaches, ‘I can’t do it anymore. It is difficult.’ My cartilage has totally degenerated, and I have arthritis.
"Slowly, people will also realise that Saina is (no longer) playing. I didn’t think it was such a big matter to announce my retirement. I just felt my time was up because my knee is not able to push like before," she said.
Saina’s knee problems began during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she suffered an early group stage exit despite arriving in Brazil as the reigning bronze medallist from the London 2012 edition.
From that point on, the injury continued to plague both her career and form.
Nevertheless, Saina can take pride in a glittering career spanning two decades at the highest level.
She became the first Indian women’s singles player to reach world No. 1 in 2015. Later that year, she created history again in Jakarta by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the World Championships final, where she eventually lost to Spain’s Carolina Marin.
