India's top batsman Virat Kohli paid an emotional tribute to Saina Nehwal after the former world No.1 announced her retirement from competitive badminton due to ongoing injury problems. 

Saina, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist, recently opened up about her long absence from the sport, explaining that her body could no longer cope with the physical demands of elite badminton. The shuttler has been sidelined for nearly two years after struggling with a chronic knee condition that repeatedly disrupted her comeback attempts.

Through social media platforms Kohli congratulated Saina for her remarkable career which made Indian badminton known throughout the world. “Congratulations @NSaina on a legendary career that put Indian badminton on the world stage. Wishing you a happy, fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. India is proud,” he wrote, echoing the sentiments of millions of fans across the country.

Despite a strong comeback, ongoing knee problems brought an end to Saina Nehwal’s career

Saina last played in a competitive match at the Singapore Open in 2023 but she did not officially retire from the sport during that period. She later revealed that she did not feel the need for an official statement, believing her prolonged absence from competition was explanation enough.

Congratulations @NSaina on a legendary career that put Indian badminton on the world stage. Wishing you a happy, fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. India is proud. 🇮🇳🏸

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 23, 2026

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Her career faced a major setback during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she suffered a career-threatening knee injury. Saina achieved her first major comeback after her setback when she won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and then won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Yet, her knee problems kept appearing and they continued to impact her life.

In 2024, Saina disclosed that she had developed arthritis and cartilage wear in her knees, which prevented her from training at the top-level intensity needed for her sport. She made her decision after realizing that her body no longer permitted her to train at the same level which had been possible for her earlier.

Saina Nehwal bows out as one of India's greatest sporting trailblazers who created a legacy which motivated an entire generation while transforming the future of Indian badminton.

After the Tennis ace, Saina Nehwal, officially retired from competitive badminton, the Indian cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar, gave a touching tribute to her. Nehwal, during a recent podcast, broke the news that she would not be coming back to the court after playing in the Singapore Open 2023 tournament.

Just a little while after the post made by Tendulkar on X, Saina reacted with a simple but very touching message "Thank you so much," showing her usual humility even at the end of her career full of achievements.

Tendulkar in his post referred to the path of Nehwal as a channel of patience, bravery, and steadfastness. He also mentioned that she had made Indian badminton global. He pointed out that her faith and getting ready for the event were the things that changed the sport in the country and also put the students of one generation after the other who aspired to dominate globally. Further, Tendulkar commented that even though the medals signal achievements on paper, Saina's faith across the length and breadth of India is her greatest legacy.

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An injury made it a quiet goodbye but respect from a sports legend was the cherry on the cake

Saina, who has had to deal with a long-standing knee problem, revealed that she had no option but to withdraw when the pain and swelling did not stop. She said the elite badminton physical demands had become irreconcilable with her knee's condition as it was not permitting more than an hour or two of power training. Thus, she deemed it time to leave the top naturally.

Thank you so much 🙏😊😇 https://t.co/MZfPVyTEOg

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 22, 2026

It is worth mentioning that Nehwal did not make a big public announcement when she first withdrew from the sport. She said that she thought people had already taken her retirement for granted, particularly after her long absence from competition and not qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

The interaction between Tendulkar and Nehwal reunited two sports giants from different fields, highlighting the mutual respect among India’s top athletes. If Saina’s playing career is over, the loyalty in the form of respect she still receives is an indication of her long-lasting impact on Indian sports which even the next generations will notice.

virat Kohli and Saina Nehwal Glow at the Johnnie Walker Event

Two of India's all-time great sporting stars, Virat Kohli and Saina Nehwal, were present at the Johnnie Walker List event yesterday. The fact that they were present at the event brought pride to sporting fans, considering that both of them have achieved so much fame for India through cricket and badminton.

Two Icons, One Stage
Virat Kohli, a cricket great and Indian former captain, has made many records in international cricket. He is known for his attacking batting technique and unparalleled consistency. Kohli is regarded as one of the finest batsmen in the world. His commitment and determination have inspired a million young budding cricketers.

Saina Nehwal, however, is an India badminton icon. She is the first Indian lady to become World No. 1 ranked in badminton and has also won many prized titles, one of them being an Olympic bronze.Her achievement has helped badminton gain massive popularity in India.

Virat Kohli and Saina Nehwal at the Johnnie Walker list Event yesterday.

- TWO GREATS OF INDIAN SPORTS..!!!! 🌟🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/iCssKI3XIj

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) March 31, 2025

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A Night to Remember
The event was that of success, determination, and sportsmanship. Kohli and Nehwal discussed their lives, challenges, and the motivation which keeps them motivated even today. The audience and viewers were keen to witness two sporting legends at one place discussing their tales and success stories.

Both champions discussed the support they have ever received over the years. The two also told young talents that they s

Young Indian cricketer Angkrish Raghuvanshi has apologized for making fun of star badminton player Saina Nehwal. In a viral video, Nehwal talked about how other sports like badminton and tennis are becoming more popular in India, a country without a strong sports culture. She expressed pride in the rise of Olympic athletes and mentioned feeling bad when cricket gets more attention than other sports.

Nehwal also compared the physical demands of other sports with cricket, saying that sports like badminton and tennis are tougher. Raghuvanshi didn’t like her comments and mocked her by suggesting she try facing fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s 150 kmph bouncers.

A few hours later, Raghuvanshi deleted his post on social media platform X and apologized, saying his remarks were meant as a joke.

Raghuvanshi’s apology for mocking remarks

“I’m sorry everyone, I meant my remarks as a joke, looking back I think it was a really immature joke. I realize my mistake and I sincerely apologize,” wrote Raghuvanshi on his X(twitter) account.

Saina Nehwal’s comments on cricket

“I did that, I feel it’s like a dream sometimes. I did it in India because there’s no sporting culture in India. Sometimes, we feel so bad that cricket gets that attention. What I have one thing about cricket is, if you see badminton, basketball, tennis and of course the other sports are so tough physically. You don’t even have the time to pick up the shuttle and serve. You’re like (imitates panting), 20 seconds of run you just breathing so hard. And the game like cricket gets that kind of attention where I think personally skill is more important,” Nehwal said in the video.

Raghuvanshi’s achievements in the Under-19 World Cup

Raghuvanshi, born in Delhi, became well-known after being India’s top run-scorer in the Under-19 World Cup 2022. The 20-year-old scored 278 runs in six innings, averaging 46.33, with one hundred and one fifty.