Top five Indian athletes who quit sports while still young

Published at :August 29, 2024 at 8:36 AM

Modified at :August 29, 2024 at 8:36 AM

(Courtesy : @IndianTechGuide/X)

Indian table tennis star Archana Kamath created a sensation as she announced her retirement at 24 years of age.

Every athlete who picks up sports dreams of an enduring and successful career loaded with medals and titles. Maintaining longevity in sports depends on many factors. On one hand, it demands hard work, determination, and dedication from the athlete, while on the other, variables such as fitness and sponsorships must also play in the athlete’s favor.

When the blend of these factors works out well, athletes achieve greatness in their respective sports, while others decide to quit and prioritize the next phase of their lives.

Quitting a sports career at a young age is not an easy decision for any athlete, as sports is often the only field they have trained for years and excelled in.

Moving on to something else and leaving behind a professional sports career is a brave call. Let us look at the top five Indian athletes who defied the norms and quit their sports careers at a young age.

5. Viren Rasquinha – 28

Former captain of the Indian men’s hockey team and Arjuna Awardee, Viren Rasquinha made his international debut in 2002 at the age of 22. He was a regular member of the Indian hockey team in the 2000s and appeared in 180 international matches for India.

He was part of the Indian team that won silver at the 2002 Busan Asian Games, gold at the 2003 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur, and finished 7th at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He announced his retirement in 2008 at the age of 28 to pursue higher studies.

After retirement, Rasquinha completed his MBA from the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad and joined the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) post-MBA. Nowadays, he is frequently seen in pre and post-match hockey shows and is currently the director and CEO at OGQ.

4. Lilima Minz – 27

Lilima Minz made her international debut for the Indian women’s hockey team in 2011. The midfielder scored 12 goals in 156 matches for India and was part of many glorious moments with the Indian Women’s Hockey Team.

She was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2014 Asian Games, the silver medal win at the 2018 Asian Games, and the gold medal victory at the FIH Women’s Series Finals in Hiroshima in 2019. Lilima was also part of the Indian squad that made a historic 4th-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. Lilima announced her retirement from hockey in 2022 at the age of 27.

3. Namita Toppo – 27

Namita Toppo made her international debut for the Indian women’s hockey team in 2012 at the age of 17. She represented India in 168 international matches and was part of the Indian team that won bronze and silver medals at the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games, respectively.

She was also part of the Indian squad at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in which the Indian women’s team appeared after 36 years. Namita announced her retirement in 2022 at the young age of 27.

2. Archana Kamath – 24

The 2022 National Games gold medalist in table tennis and former world rank 122, Archana Kamath decided to step away from the sport at the age of 24 to pursue higher studies in the United States. Archana was part of the Indian women’s table tennis team that reached the quarter-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She performed brilliantly for India in the Round of 16 against Romania and also secured India’s only win in the quarter-finals over Germany’s world No. 38 Shan Xiaona. Archana also finished a respectable fourth at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

1. Nisha Millet – 22

Arjuna Awardee Nisha Millet is the first Indian to qualify for swimming at the Olympics and represented India at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Millet also represented India at the 1998 Asian Games and World Championships (Perth 1999, Indianapolis 2004).

She won medals for the country at both the Afro-Asian Games and SAF Games. She also holds the distinction of winning 14 gold medals at the National Games in 1999 and was the first Indian female swimmer to break the one-minute barrier in the 100m freestyle.

Nisha narrowly missed the 2004 Olympics qualification after undergoing back surgery in 2002. She then decided to retire from competitive swimming in 2004 at the age of 22. Nisha has been involved in training young talents post-retirement and runs her swimming academy in Bangalore

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