Star Indian shuttler, 2019 World Championships bronze medalist, and Tokyo Olympian B Sai Praneeth hung his boots on Monday, ending an illustrious international badminton career. The 31-year-old will now pursue a coaching career in the USA.
Ever since the 2020 Olympics, Praneeth had been battling poor form, and multiple injuries, that saw him crash out of tournaments in early stages.
“With a mix of emotions, I pen down these words to bid farewell and announce my retirement from the sport that has been my lifeblood for over 24 years,” he posted on his Instagram account. “Today, as I embark on a new chapter, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the journey that brought me here.
“Badminton, you have been my first love, my constant companion, shaping my character and giving purpose to my existence. The memories we’ve shared, the challenges we’ve overcome, will forever be etched in my heart,” he wrote.
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Triangle Badminton Academy, USA
The next destination is the Triangle Badminton Academy for Praneeth, that he will be joining next month. “I will be joining mid-April. I will be the head coach of the club. So, I will be overseeing all the players there. Of course, once I am there, we will discuss elaborately about the role,” he told PTI.
