New Delhi. Former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and star shuttler PV Sindhu, who won the Olympic medal twice in badminton, congratulated veteran badminton player Saina Nehwal for her excellent career on her retirement from badminton.

Virat Kohli wrote on X, “Saina Nehwal, congratulations on your wonderful career. You have brought Indian badminton to the world recognition. Wishing you a happy, satisfying and good retirement. India is proud of you.”

PV Sindhu wrote on X, “Saina, happy retirement. Thank you for everything you have given to Indian badminton. Wishing you peace, happiness and all the best for this next stage of your life.”

Former veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also congratulated Saina Nehwal on her retirement, writing, “Well played, Saina. Congratulations on a wonderful career. You have taken Indian badminton forward and inspired a generation. Best wishes to you for whatever comes next.” After staying away from badminton for a long time due to injury, Saina has said goodbye to badminton.

Announcing her retirement, she said, “You train eight to nine hours to be the best in the world. Now, my knees would give out within an hour or two. There was swelling, and after that it became very difficult to push. So I thought enough was enough. I can’t push anymore. My cartilage is completely damaged. There is arthritis, and it is very difficult to come back. So after talking to my family and coach, I had to take this difficult decision.”

Saina is the first player to win a medal for India in badminton in the Olympics. In 2012 he won the bronze medal in the London Olympics. This badminton player from Hisar had created history and made her mark at the international level by winning the Junior World Championship in 2008 and becoming the first Indian woman to reach the singles quarter-finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. In 2009, she created history by becoming the first Indian to win a BWF Super Series tournament by winning the Indonesia Open. A year later, he achieved Commonwealth Games champion status.

In 2015, she achieved a historic milestone by becoming world No. 1 in the singles badminton rankings, making her the first Indian woman to do so and the second Indian shuttler after Prakash Padukone to reach the top. That year, she also reached the final of the BWF World Championships, the first player from India to do so. Saina, who has played an important role in establishing Indian badminton firmly on the international stage, has been honored with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Khel Ratna and Arjun Award.