Saina Nehwal, one of India’s most accomplished badminton players, has announced her retirement from professional badminton at the age of 35.
Nehwal said she has been dealing with a serious knee problem for the past two years and that her body is no longer capable of withstanding the demands of international competition. The London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist last played a competitive match at the Singapore Open 2023, although she did not formally announce her retirement at that time.
Speaking recently during a podcast interaction, Nehwal said she had largely stopped playing competitive badminton nearly two years ago. She stated that she began her career on her own terms and took the decision to retire independently, which is why she did not feel the need for a formal press conference or announcement.
Nehwal said that when a player is no longer physically fit to compete, it is better to accept reality. She added that if a player is not in a condition to play, that is where the matter ends.
Explaining the medical reasons behind her decision, Nehwal said the condition of her knees has deteriorated significantly. She revealed that the cartilage in her knees has completely worn out and that she has been diagnosed with arthritis. She said she had shared this condition with her parents and coach, and all of them understood that continuing to play had become extremely difficult.
She said she gradually stepped away from the sport, and over time people realised she was no longer appearing on court. Nehwal stated that remaining a top-level badminton player requires eight to nine hours of rigorous daily training, which was no longer possible for her. She added that her knees could not even tolerate one to two hours of training, with swelling occurring after minimal exertion, making it painful and risky to push herself further. She said this was the point at which she decided to stop.
Nehwal remains one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian badminton. She won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman badminton player to win an Olympic medal. She also became the first Indian woman to attain the world No. 1 ranking.
A serious knee injury sustained during the 2016 Rio Olympics impacted her career significantly. Despite this, she won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Persistent knee issues, however, continued to affect her consistency. Nehwal last played a competitive match at the Singapore Open 2023. In 2024, she publicly stated that she had arthritis in her knees, which made high-level training nearly impossible.
