'You carried Indian badminton' - Virat Kohli, PV Sindhu, Sachin Tendulkar pay tribute to Saina Nehwal on her retirement
(Courtesy : @NSaina/Twitter)
Saina Nehwal’s biggest achievement was winning bronze at the London 2012 Olympics.
Indian badminton stalwart Saina Nehwal confirmed her retirement on Monday, January 20, and since then, the sporting fraternity has been remembering and celebrating her beautiful career.
Tributes poured in not only from the badminton world but also from across Indian sport. Indian cricket maestro Virat Kohli took to social media to congratulate the London Olympics bronze medallist after she announced her decision to step away from the game.
“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,” Kohli wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Kohli was not the only one. The ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar also took a moment to appreciate Nehwal’s extraordinary journey, calling her an inspiration for generations to come.
“Dear Saina, your career is proof that greatness is built one day at a time, with patience, courage, and consistency,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
“You carried Indian badminton to the world stage and showed that belief, when matched with preparation, can change the course of a sport.
Also Read: Badminton: Top five achievements of Saina Nehwal
“Beyond the medals lies your greatest achievement — inspiring young athletes across the country to believe that global success is possible.
“Every sporting journey evolves, and while one phase ends, another begins. One where your experience, perspective, and love for the game will continue to guide many.
“Thank you for everything you’ve given to Indian sport. Your influence will be felt for generations,” the post read.
Meanwhile, PV Sindhu, the Indian shuttler who took over the mantle of India’s top female badminton superstar from Saina Nehwal, also applauded her for the huge contribution to the sport.
“Wishing you a happy retirement, @NSaina. Thank you for everything you’ve contributed to Indian badminton. Wishing you peace, happiness, and the very best in this next phase of life,” Sindhu wrote.
These words, however, may still fall short of describing Nehwal’s true impact on Indian sport. Her journey reached historic heights at the London 2012 Olympics, where she became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal.
In April 2015, she became the first Indian woman and only the second Indian shuttler after Prakash Padukone to attain the World No. 1 singles ranking.
Over her multi-storeyed illustrous career, the 35-year-old legend won more than 24 international titles, including 11 BWF Super Series titles and two Commonwealth Games singles gold medals in 2010 and 2018.
She remains the only Indian to have won a medal in every major BWF event, including silver at the 2015 World Championships and bronze in 2017.
Also Read: Saina Nehwal’s career in numbers, records, stats, and titles
At just 18, Nehwal became the first Indian to win the BWF World Junior Championships in 2008. She also became the first Indian woman to reach the Olympic quarter-finals at the Beijing 2008 Games.
The major in her career came after the injury she sustained at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Things were never quite the same. Sindhu began to struggle on court, took time away from competition, and battled recurring fitness issues.
Despite these challenges, she still managed to win a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. But the wounds were not healed.
As a result, her appearances became limited, and she quietly stepped away from the sport after her last match at the 2023 Singapore Open. She later made her formal retirement announcement in January 2026, bringing an end to the beautiful badminton career.
When did Saina Nehwal announce her competitive retirement?
Saina Nehwal officially announced her retirement from badminton on January 20, 2026.
What is Saina Nehwal’s biggest career achievement?
Saina Nehwal’s biggest achievement was winning bronze at the London 2012 Olympics, becoming India’s first badminton Olympic medallist. She also reached World No. 1 in 2015.
Which sportspersons paid tribute to Saina Nehwal?
Several prominent figures, including Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and PV Sindhu, paid heartfelt tributes to Saina Nehwal following her retirement.
How many international titles did Saina Nehwal win?
Saina Nehwal won over 24 international titles, including 11 BWF Super Series titles and two Commonwealth Games gold medals.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.