Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu penned an emotional tribute to her longtime rival and friend Tai Tzu-ying following the Chinese Taipei badminton player’s retirement on Friday.
“A beautiful chapter has come to an end. Thank you, badminton, for everything you have given me,” Tai Tzu-ying had posted on social media. “Eventually, my injuries forced me to leave the court. I couldn’t end my career the way I had hoped, and it took me a while to come to terms with that.”
“I haven’t decided what I‘ll do next, but for now, I’m going to enjoy a life without alarm clocks,” she added.
A Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, Tai Tzu-ying finished her career with 17 titles on the BWF World Tour with her last win coming at the India Open 2024. She is also a two-time medal winner at the World Championships and a three-time Asian champion.
Reacting to Tai Tzu-ying’s retirement, PV Sindhu shared a heartfelt tribute, charting the duo’s journey on court over the years, which culminated in a friendship.
“For over 15 years, you were the opponent who pushed me to my limits every single time,” PV Sindhu said. “Two of the most important medals of my life – the Rio 2016 Olympic silver and the 2019 World Championship gold – came after playing you in those marathon, heart-stopping matches.