Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu has penned a heartfelt note for Carolina Marin, who announced her retirement from badminton on Thursday. In a video message shared on social media titled “This is where my journey ends” Marin said a lingering knee injury forced her to step back from the sport and prioritize your long-term health over one final appearance on the court.
Sindhu said that Marin will always remain a special opponent in her journey and recalled their fierce battles, intensity on court and even heated moments. She admitted that Marin was “an absolute pain on the court”, but said their rivalry was always underpinned by a deep mutual respect.
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“Some opponents become a part of your journey forever. Carolina was one of them. We first played together when we were 15 or 16 in the Maldives and have shared so many battles since then,” Sindhu wrote in a note on Instagram.
“To be honest, you were a pain on the court too. The constant yelling, the intensity, the little tricks, they would get to anyone. But your skills, speed and fighting spirit were second to none. People remember the big matches and even the nasty spat we had in that third set over picking the shuttle. I’ll admit I was absolutely furious that day.”
“But a few months later we sat across from each other over coffee in Madrid, talking and laughing, and in that moment there was nothing but respect. That’s the Carolina I’ll always remember,” Sindhu wrote.
‘BADMINTON YOU WILL BE MISSED’
Sindhu and Marin have faced each other 18 times, with the Spaniard leading 12-6. The two also met in the women’s singles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Marin came from behind to win 19-21, 21-12, 21-15.
Sindhu also said that she will always be grateful for the camaraderie shared by their generation, adding that their lot made women’s singles a truly special place to compete.
“I will also always be grateful for the incredible camaraderie our generation has built. Our group of girls have made women’s singles such a special place to compete and I honestly don’t know if badminton has seen or will ever see anything like it.”
“Thank you for every battle, every lesson and most of all the friendship. I wish you the happiest of retirements Carolina. Badminton will miss you. And so will I,” Sindhu added.
THE IMPRESSIVE CAREER OF CAROLINA MARIN
The upcoming European Championships in Huelva, scheduled for next month, were expected to be Marino’s farewell on home soil. However, the Spaniard said she was disappointed not to end her career the way she had hoped, while acknowledging that things don’t always go to plan.
Marin bowed out as one of the greatest players in women’s singles history, winning three world titles (2014, 2015 and 2018), seven European crowns and Olympic gold in Rio 2016. Her last competitive appearance came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, completing a remarkable comeback after suffering two ACL tears in 20201
Tributes poured in soon after her announcement, with the badminton fraternity rallying around the Spaniard. Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, India’s Chirag Shetty and several others were among those who responded to her farewell video with heartfelt messages.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
27 March 2026 16:57 IST
