Saina Nehwal Retires: Badminton Legend Ends Illustrious Career Citing Knee Issues

• Badminton star Saina Nehwal officially announced her retirement, over two years after her last competitive match.
• She cited chronic knee conditions and the inability to meet elite sport's physical demands as reasons for her decision.
• Nehwal is celebrated for being the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton (bronze, London 2012).
• Her career includes multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals, World Championships medals, and Asian Games medals.
• Saina was honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award and the Padma Bhushan for her contributions to Indian sports.

Why It Matters: Saina Nehwal, India's badminton icon, retires due to persistent knee issues, leaving a legacy of historic achievements.