In a heartfelt tribute, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli congratulated badminton legend Saina Nehwal on her retirement from the sport, calling her a pride of India. The former captain took to social media platform X to laud her outstanding achievements that put Indian badminton on the global map.
Kohli wrote, ‘Saina Nehwal, congratulations on your stellar career. You gave Indian badminton recognition worldwide. Wishing you a happy, fulfilling, and great retirement. India is proud of you.’
Olympic medalist PV Sindhu also extended her best wishes, thanking Saina for her immense contributions to Indian badminton. ‘Saina, best wishes on your retirement. Thank you for everything you’ve given to Indian badminton. Wishing you peace, happiness, and all the best for this next chapter in life,’ she posted.
Yuvraj Singh, the former all-rounder, echoed similar sentiments, praising her for elevating the sport and inspiring a generation. ‘Great game, Saina. Congratulations on a fantastic career. You’ve taken Indian badminton forward and inspired a generation. Best wishes for whatever comes next.’
Saina’s decision to retire came after prolonged struggles with injuries, particularly knee issues that hampered her training and performance. Speaking about her choice, she revealed the physical toll: training for eight to nine hours daily to be the world’s best, but now her knees gave up after just one or two hours, with swelling and damaged cartilage making a comeback nearly impossible. After consultations with family and coaches, she made the tough call.
Hailing from Hisar, Saina made history as India’s first Olympic badminton medalist with bronze at London 2012. Her accolades include winning the Junior World Championship in 2008, reaching the quarterfinals at Beijing Olympics as the first Indian woman, clinching the Indonesia Open in 2009 to become the first Indian Super Series winner, and topping the world rankings in 2015 – the first Indian woman to do so after Prakash Padukone.
That same year, she reached the BWF World Championship final, another Indian first. Her triumphs at Commonwealth Games and numerous Super Series titles solidified her legacy. Awards like Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Khel Ratna, and Arjuna further honor her contributions to elevating Indian badminton internationally.
As Saina steps away, her impact endures, paving the way for future stars in the shuttle sport.