Indian badminton star Ashwini Ponnappa has announced her retirement from Olympic competition following a disappointing performance in the Group C women’s team match at the Paris Olympics. Ponnappa and her partner, Tanisha Crasto, faced their third consecutive defeat, losing to Australia’s Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu in straight games, 15-21, 10-21.
Reflecting on her career and the emotional toll of competing at the highest level, Ponnappa said, “It takes a toll emotionally and mentally. I can’t go through this again. It is not easy. You can take all this if you are a little younger. Having played for so long, I can’t take it anymore,” as quoted by Olympics.com.
The loss saw the Indian pair finish fourth in Group C, marking the end of their campaign in the women’s team event. The duo struggled throughout the competition, unable to find the form needed to progress.
On a brighter note, India’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, secured their place in the quarterfinals with a dominant victory over Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto. The Indian pair, ranked third globally, triumphed 21-13, 21-13 to emerge as Group C leaders.
Satwik and Chirag delivered a stellar performance, showcasing their aggressive gameplay and strategic teamwork. They consistently outmaneuvered the All-England champions, securing critical points to close the match in just 40 minutes.
While Ponnappa’s announcement marks the end of an illustrious Olympic chapter, Satwik and Chirag’s progression fuels hope for India’s continued success in the badminton arena.
TNL News Network
