Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram announced his retirement from the sport on Saturday after featuring in the international circuit for nearly around twenty years. Jayaram could have continued playing as he was only 34 years old but he decided to call time on his long career.
Jayaram definitely had some great memories as he was an active part of the Indian badminton contingent for so long. During his career, the best rank that he achieved was 13th back in 2017. Jayaram has also won several tournaments like the Czech International Open, Dutch Open, etc. He posted a message on social media announcing the news to his fans followers and family as he thanked everyone for supporting him.
“Alright, this is tough. As all good things come to an end, so has my professional badminton journey of nearly two decades. I decided to retire from competitive badminton and I wrote this, teary-eyed and with a lump in my throat. While I am engulfed by all these overwhelming emotions, I would like to celebrate and be grateful for all that badminton and sport, in general, has given me,” Jayaram wrote on Saturday.
Jayaram featured in the Indian Open Super 500 in New Delhi and that resulted in the last tournament of his career where he got knocked out in the first round. His ranking at the time of his retirement was 67.
The veteran shuttler was part of the Indian badminton team that won the Asian Team Championship in Hyderabad way back in 2016. The Mumbai based shuttler admitted that the sport has given him everything that he is today.
“Badminton has defined most of who I am today. It has shaped me, taught me, grounded me and shown me what dreaming big can do. From picking up the racket at a nearby club as a shy 7-year-old boy, to competing in the biggest stadiums as the world’s top 15 player, I am indebted to this wonderful sport. I thank badminton for all the exciting and enriching experiences it has given me,” Jayaram added.
Lastly, Jayaram thanked his family, friends and followers for their overwhelming support. Jayaram struggled throughout his career with persistent injury problems as many people felt that Jayaram would have achieved much more than what he did.
“My mom, dad, sister, coaches, fiance, friends, well-wishers, competitors, sponsors, physios, trainers have all played an indispensable role in shaping my career and I will forever be grateful to them. To all my lovely fans, followers, critics and well-wishers – you’ve pushed me along in difficult times and celebrated with me when I’ve won,” Jayaram concluded penning a very emotional post on the day of his retirement from badminton.
