Saina Nehwal Confirms Retirement from Competitive Badminton Citing Knee Injury

Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist and former world No. 1, has officially retired from competitive badminton after a two-year hiatus caused by chronic knee degeneration and arthritis. She last competed at the 2023 Singapore Open and chose not to formally announce her retirement earlier, believing her absence spoke for itself. Nehwal cited her body's inability to endure elite training demands as the main reason. Her career, spanning over two decades, significantly shaped Indian badminton and inspired future generations.