B Sai Praneeth, former world championship bronze winner, announces retirement from competitive badminton
B. Sai Praneeth, the 2019 World Championship bronze medallist, has announced his retirement from badminton at the age of 31. The Indian shuttler made the announcement on social media, expressing his gratitude to the sport and all who supported him throughout his career.
Sai Praneeth, hailing from Hyderabad, Telangana, had a successful career in badminton, winning the bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships and being part of the Indian team that won bronze medals in the Asian Team Championships in 2020 and 2016. He also clinched a bronze at the 2010 World Junior Badminton Championships and a gold at the South Asian Games in 2016.
In his retirement post, Sai Praneeth thanked his family, coaches, and various associations for their unwavering support. He expressed his commitment to staying connected to badminton in different roles, such as coaching, mentoring, and advocating for the sport’s growth and success.
Throughout his career, Sai Praneeth had notable victories, including upsetting the 2003 All-England Champion Muhammad Hafiz Hashim and Indonesian legend Taufik Hidayat in international tournaments. With 225 wins and 151 losses in singles, he reached a highest ranking of 10 in November 2019.
The badminton community and fans bid farewell to Sai Praneeth’s competitive play, acknowledging his contributions to the sport and wishing him success in his future endeavors within the realm of badminton.
