Virat Kohli congratulates Saina Nehwal [Source: AFP]On Friday, India star batter Virat Kohli shared a heartfelt message for badminton legend Saina Nehwal after she officially confirmed her retirement from professional badminton. Saina, who has been one of India’s greatest sports icons, decided to step away from the game due to ongoing physical issues that made it difficult for her to compete at the highest level.Saina Nehwal’s decision to retireSaina Nehwal, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist and former World No.1, revealed that she could no longer continue playing competitive badminton because her body was not able to handle the sport’s intense demands. For the past two years, she had been struggling with a chronic knee problem that kept her away from tournaments.Although Saina last played a competitive match at the Singapore Open in 2023, she did not announce her retirement at that time. Instead, she quietly stepped away from the court. Recently, during a podcast, she confirmed that she would not be making a comeback, as her physical condition had worsened over time.Virat Kohli pays tribute to Saina NehwalSoon after the news came out, Virat Kohli took to social media to congratulate Saina on her legendary career. He praised her for putting Indian badminton on the global map and thanked her for making the nation proud. He wrote,"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 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. 🇮🇳🏸 Saina Nehwal gets praise from Sachin Tendulkar Virat Kohli was not the only one to applaud Saina’s journey. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also shared a touching message. He wrote, "Dear Saina, your career is proof that greatness is built one day at a time, with patience, courage, and consistency. You carried Indian badminton to the world stage and showed that belief, when matched with preparation, can change the course of a sport."Saina Nehwal's badminton careerIt is important to mention that Saina’s career faced a major setback after a serious knee injury during the Rio 2016 Olympics. However, she showed incredible determination by making a strong comeback. She went on to win a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2017 and a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.Unfortunately, recurring knee problems continued to trouble her. In 2024, she revealed that she had developed arthritis and cartilage damage in her knees, making high-intensity training extremely difficult. These challenges ultimately led her to accept that her playing days were over.Saina mentioned that she did not feel the need for a formal retirement announcement. According to her, her long absence from tournaments already made it clear that she was no longer playing.Meanwhile, Virat Kohli continues to shine in cricket. Currently ranked second in the ICC ODI batting rankings, he was last seen in action during the ODI series against New Zealand, where he scored 240 runs in three innings. Notably, he will next be seen in action during the IPL, followed by India’s upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, which is expected later this year.
