Badminton

Saina Nehwal, India's badminton icon and former Olympic bronze medalist, has revealed her battle with arthritis, casting doubt on her future in the sport. The 34-year-old, who made history as the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal, is facing the reality that her illustrious career may be nearing its end.Nehwal's knee injury, aggravated by arthritis, has severely limited her training hours. "The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours," she said.The realization that her body is no longer capable of the rigorous training required to compete at the highest level has forced Nehwal to confront the possibility of retirement. "I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results," she admitted.Nehwal's decision will be influenced by the impact retirement will have on her life. "I am also thinking about it (retirement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson's career is always a short one," she said.Despite the challenges, Nehwal remains proud of her accomplishments. "I have also had a long career and I am very proud of that. I have broken my body to a great extent. I am happy with what I have done and given it all," she said.The Padma Shri awardee expressed her disappointment at missing the Olympics for two consecutive editions. "Competing at the Olympics is a childhood dream for all. You prepare to reach that level for years. Hence, at times, when you realize you will not be able to make it, it hurts a lot," she said.Nehwal also spoke about the pressure of expectations that comes with being a top athlete. "When you become a big player, your friends, family, coaches, sponsors, everyone wants you to perform. There are a lot of stakeholders involved," she said.As she contemplates her future, Nehwal remains grateful for the support she has received throughout her career. "I have done a lot of hard work. I competed in three Olympics. I gave my 100 per cent in all of them. I can take pride in that and be happy about it," she said.

Saina Nehwal, India's badminton icon and former Olympic bronze medalist, has revealed her battle with arthritis, casting doubt on her future in the sport. The 34-year-old, who made history as the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal, has been hampered by injuries in recent years.Nehwal's knee condition has deteriorated to the point where she can no longer train for the extended hours required to compete at the highest level. "The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours," she said.The realization that her career is nearing its end has been a difficult one for Nehwal. "I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results," she admitted.Nehwal is considering retirement but is still weighing the impact it will have on her life. "I am also thinking about it (retirement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson's career is always a short one," she said.Despite the challenges, Nehwal looks back on her career with pride. She competed in three Olympic Games and gave her all in each one. "I have done a lot of hard work. I competed in three Olympics. I gave my 100 per cent in all of them. I can take pride in that and be happy about it," she said.Nehwal also spoke about the pressure of expectations that comes with being a top athlete. "When you become a big player, your friends, family, coaches, sponsors, everyone wants you to perform. There are a lot of stakeholders involved," she said.As Nehwal contemplates her future, she knows that she will have to make a decision by the end of the year. Her legacy as one of India's greatest badminton players is secure, but the question remains whether she will continue to push her body or step away from the sport that has defined her life.

Olympic silver medalist He Bing Jiao of China has bid farewell to international badminton, marking the end of an illustrious career. Despite her departure from the global stage, He Bing Jiao will continue to grace domestic tournaments, showcasing her unwavering passion for the sport.He Bing Jiao's journey to the pinnacle of badminton began in 2014 when she emerged as the runner-up to Akane Yamaguchi at the BWF World Junior Championships. Her triumph at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, later that year, hinted at her promising future.Following the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the retirement of China's badminton stalwarts paved the way for a new generation of players. He Bing Jiao, alongside Chen Yu Fei, became the torchbearers of this new era. She claimed significant victories early in her career, including the Japan Open 2016 and the French Open the same year.Throughout her career, He Bing Jiao amassed several prestigious titles, including victories on the HSBC BWF World Tour. Her notable wins include the Denmark Open and the French Open in 2022, where she defeated Chen Yu Fei and Carolina Marin, respectively. She also played a pivotal role in China's title-winning Sudirman Cup and Uber Cup teams.On an individual level, He Bing Jiao earned bronze medals at the BWF World Championships in 2018 and 2021, solidifying her status as a top-tier player. Her performance at Paris 2024 not only earned her an Olympic silver medal but also won her the admiration of fans worldwide. In a touching gesture, He Bing Jiao held a Spanish pin on the podium as a tribute to Marin, who had retired due to injury during their semifinal match.He Bing Jiao's retirement marks the end of an era in Chinese badminton. Her contributions to the sport have been immense, and she will be remembered as one of the world's top shuttlers.

In a poignant moment at the Paris Olympics, Thai badminton star Ratchanok Intanon defeated her long-time rival Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in their final Olympic match. The victory was bittersweet for Intanon, who knew it would be Tai Tzu's last match before retirement.Intanon, who had lost to Tai Tzu in the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals, expressed her emotions after the match. "I must do it (win) this time because I don't know about the next four years, whether I can play the next Olympics," she said. "We will miss each other. We have the same style, when we play it's like facing the mirror."Tai Tzu, known as "Queen Tai" by her fans, had announced that Paris would be her final season. Despite returning from a knee injury, expectations were high for the 30-year-old, who had come close to winning gold in Tokyo. However, she left the arena in tears after her defeat."I wasn't ready for this event before I came here," said Tai Tzu. "I know I'm not in the best condition, but I tried my best."Despite her immense talent and skill, Tai Tzu has never won a major gold medal. She has been ranked world No.1 for a record 214 weeks, won the BWF World Tour Finals four times, and the All England Open and Asian Championships three times each. However, the Olympics and World Championships have eluded her.Tai Tzu's case is reminiscent of Malaysian great Lee Chong Wei, who also lost three Olympic and World Championships finals. Both players have been considered among the all-time greats despite not winning a major title.Tai Tzu's retirement will leave a void in the badminton world. Her quick feet, fluid movement, and deceptive wristwork made her one of the most formidable and entertaining players of her generation. Her fans will surely miss her artistry and guile on the court.

Two-time world champion Kento Momota, once badminton's undisputed king, has announced his retirement from international competition at the age of 29. The Japanese star, who won 11 titles in 2019 and lost just six of 73 matches that year, has been battling the after-effects of a serious car crash in 2020.The accident, which occurred hours after Momota won the Malaysia Masters, left him with a fractured eye socket and double vision. Despite returning to competition after a year out, Momota struggled to regain his scintillating form, winning just two more titles."At the time of the accident, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think to myself, 'Why me?'" Momota told reporters in Tokyo. "There were a lot of tough times after that traffic accident. I tried to get back to the way I used to play through trial and error, but there was a gap between my feelings and my body."Momota's retirement marks the end of an era in badminton. The Japanese star was known for his exceptional speed, agility, and court coverage. He was also a master of deception, often leaving opponents guessing with his unpredictable shots.Momota's retirement has been met with sadness from the badminton community. Viktor Axelsen, who supplanted Momota as the world's best men's player, said "it has been an absolute pleasure sharing the court with you.""I feel lucky to have been able to compete with a player of your calibre," Axelsen wrote on social media.Momota's legacy will undoubtedly be debated for years to come. Some may argue that his career was cut short by the car crash, while others may point to his remarkable achievements before the accident. Regardless of where one stands on that debate, there is no doubt that Momota was one of the greatest badminton players of all time.

B Sai Praneeth, the former world number 10 and bronze medalist at the 2019 World Championships, has announced his retirement from international badminton. The 31-year-old from Hyderabad has been battling nagging injuries since the Tokyo Olympics and has decided to hang up his boots.Praneeth's career spanned over two decades, during which he achieved some notable milestones. He won the Singapore Open Super Series in 2017 and became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals of the World Championships in 2019. He also represented India at the Tokyo Olympics but failed to make a mark, losing all his matches in the group stage.Despite the setbacks, Praneeth remained a respected figure in the badminton world. He was known for his aggressive style of play and his ability to produce stunning upsets. He defeated some of the top players in the world, including Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, and Viktor Axelsen.Praneeth's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian badminton. He was one of the most successful male shuttlers in the country and his achievements inspired a generation of young players. He will be remembered as a true champion and a role model for aspiring badminton players.In his retirement announcement, Praneeth expressed his gratitude to his family, coaches, and the Badminton Association of India for their support throughout his career. He also thanked his fans for their unwavering belief in him.Praneeth is now set to embark on a new chapter in his life. He will be joining the Triangle Badminton Academy in the USA as a head coach next month. He is excited about this new challenge and is looking forward to sharing his knowledge and experience with young players.