Why in the news
Badminton star Saina Nehwal announced her retirement in January 2026, closing a career full of firsts for Indian sport.
Career highlights
| Category | Achievement |
|---|
| Olympics | Bronze, London 2012 |
| World ranking | No. 1 in 2015 |
| Commonwealth Games | Gold in 2010 and 2018 |
| World Championships | Silver in 2015 |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award |
Other recent retirements
| Player | Country | Sport |
|---|
| Alyssa Healy | Australia | Cricket |
| Usman Khawaja | Australia | Cricket |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | Cricket (T20Is) |
| Doug Bracewell | New Zealand | Cricket |
| Mohit Sharma | India | Cricket |
| Jinson Johnson | India | Athletics |
Exam angle
- Saina’s Olympic medal: bronze at London 2012.
- Year she became world No. 1: 2015.
- Jinson Johnson’s sport: athletics.