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Saina Nehwal Confirms Retirement From Badminton After Chronic Knee Damage

She told a podcast that her knees no longer allowed the hours of training top competition requires.

Overview

  • Saina Nehwal said she stopped competing about two years ago and had already informed her parents and coaches.
  • Her last match was at the Singapore Open in June 2023, with reports variously describing her absence as two or three years.
  • She cited arthritis and cartilage degeneration that cut training capacity from eight to nine hours to one or two before swelling.
  • Nehwal chose not to issue a formal retirement statement, saying her prolonged absence made the situation self‑evident.
  • Her career highlights include the 2012 Olympic bronze, a stint as world No.1, and comeback medals at the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games.