B Sai Praneeth Retires: World Championship Bronze Medalist to Join American Club as Head Coach

31-year-old Indian badminton star B. Sai Praneeth has announced his retirement from international badminton. Praneeth had won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships, marking India’s first medal in the event in 36 years. Additionally, he secured another bronze in 2020. Sai Praneeth has been honored with the Arjuna Award. He will now join an American club as the head coach. The Hyderabad-based star player, B. Sai Praneeth, had announced the end of his illustrious career through social media.

B. Sai Praneeth has bid farewell to international badminton. At 31 years old, Praneeth represented India at the Tokyo Olympics but has been struggling with injuries since then. He shared on his social media account, “With a mixed feeling, I say goodbye to the sport which has been my everything for over 24 years. Today, I embark on a new chapter and am grateful and overwhelmed by my journey so far.” Praneeth further wrote, “Badminton has been my first love and companion. It has given meaning to my existence. The memories we have shared, the struggles we have overcome, will always remain in my heart.”

Praneeth will join the Trivandrum Badminton Academy in the US as the head coach starting next month. He told PTI, “I will be going there in April. I will be the club’s head coach and will mentor all the players. Once I go there, then only I can tell you in detail. With two days to go, more details will emerge.” Excelling further in his international career, Praneeth clinched the title at the 2017 Singapore Open Super Series. Additionally, he secured a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships in Basel, Switzerland. He had reached the tenth position in the world rankings and had also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, though he was eliminated in the group stage after losing all his matches.