PETALING JAYA: Sometimes fierce rivals on court become close friends off it.
Thailand’s women’s singles star Ratchanok Intanon has penned an emotional message to her long time rival Carolina Marin (pic), who announced her retirement on Thursday.
Ratchanok described Marin as more than just an opponent, but someone who had taught her valuable lessons, not only in badminton but also in life beyond the court.
“A long journey, a journey with an end. Thank you for the beautiful moments. I learned so much from you because our playing styles were different. I learned from you to move forward,” said Ratchanok in a social media post dedicated to the Spaniard.
“Thank you for inspiring European athletes to take an interest in badminton. From now on, please live the life you want and always have a smile on your face. Always love you, my friend.”
The two have shared a long standing rivalry, with their first meeting dating back to the opening round of the Denmark Open in 2011, where Ratchanok emerged victorious. Ratchanok also denied Marin twice in finals, first at the Malaysian Masters in 2019 and again at the Indonesian Masters a year later.
Marin was forced to hang up her racquet at the age of 32 due to recurring knee injuries. She had been slated to compete at the European Championships in Huelva from April 6-12, but opted not to risk further damage.
Throughout her career, Marin broke new ground and proved that players from non-traditional badminton nations can rise to the very top.
She famously won the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics and captured three world titles in 2014, 2015 and 2018.
In addition, Marin made history as the first Spanish player to win six European titles.
