TAIPEI, TAIWAN—Former world number one and Olympic silver medallist Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan has officially announced her retirement from professional badminton, citing a battle with recurring injuries that ultimately forced her off the court. The 31-year-old star shared the news in a heartfelt, dual-language post on her social media channels yesterday, marking the conclusion of what she called “The TTY era.”
Known for her dazzling deception and signature wrist-flick artistry, Tai ends a brilliant career that saw her dominate the women’s singles world rankings for a remarkable total of 214 weeks.
In her moving statement, Tai expressed gratitude to her fans, saying, “A beautiful chapter has come to an end. Thank you, badminton, for everything you have given me.”
💔 An Injured Farewell
The Chinese Taipei shuttler revealed that the past year had been “the toughest time of my career,” primarily due to a debilitating knee injury. She recounted the immense physical and mental struggle she faced last year:
“Last year was the toughest time of my career. Before the Olympics, I wasn’t sure if my injured foot would allow me to compete, but I gave it my all. Others didn’t give up on me, so I couldn’t give up on myself… 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.”
Tai admitted that the pain and “helplessness” she felt at the time is something she will “never forget.” The injury, which led to her being forced to retire from one of her final matches, prevented her from having a “complete ending” to her professional journey. She apologized to fans for not being able to have a “perfect retirement ceremony,” choosing instead to announce the news via social media, as she was reluctant to let people see her vulnerable state.
🙏 Grateful for Support and Recovery
Following her final matches, Tai underwent extensive rehabilitation, including surgery on both her left and right legs. She extended deep thanks to the National Sports Training Center and the Badminton Association for their support, and specifically acknowledged Dr. Chou Wen-Yi for his expertise in fully repairing her knee, ensuring she can maintain normal activity and exercise in the future.
She also expressed appreciation for the support from cooperative bank, a long-time sponsor, and her “strongest team” who aided her recovery.
🛌 Life Without an Alarm Clock
Looking ahead, Tai shared that her plans for retirement are still forming, but she is ready to embrace a new pace of life.
“I haven’t decided what I’ll do next, but for now, I’m going to enjoy a life without alarm clocks.”
Concluding her announcement, she left a powerful message for her fans: “The TTY era has come to an end, but I hope the spirit of TTY stays with you always.”
Tai Tzu-ying’s legendary career includes a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, gold at the 2018 Asian Games, and three All England Open titles (2017, 2018, 2020). Her retirement marks the departure of one of badminton’s most gifted and unpredictable players.
🌟 Rivals Pay Heartfelt Tributes to the ‘Badminton Artist’
Tai Tzu-ying’s retirement announcement immediately drew an outpouring of tributes from the badminton world, with her long-time rivals and peers praising her unparalleled skill and the impact she had on their own careers.
🇮🇳 PV Sindhu: “I Hated Playing You”
One of the most notable tributes came from India’s two-time Olympic medallist, PV Sindhu, who shared a deeply personal and emotional post reflecting on their fierce, yet respectful, rivalry that spanned over 15 years.
Sindhu openly confessed the challenge Tai posed:
“I won’t hide it: I hated playing you. Your wristwork, your deception, your calm brilliance made me dig deeper than I ever imagined I could. Facing you changed me as an athlete.”
Despite the challenging head-to-head record (Tai held a commanding lead), Sindhu highlighted how their matches were crucial to her most significant achievements:
“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… But beyond the rivalry, we built something truly meaningful. A quiet friendship, a deep respect, and a bond shaped through years of battles that only we fully understand.”
Sindhu concluded by admitting Tai’s departure feels like a personal loss: “Watching you step away feels like losing a piece of my own journey. The sport will miss your magic, and so will I.”
🇪🇸 Carolina Marín: A Role Model of Technique
Rio 2016 Olympic champion, Carolina Marín of Spain, also sent her best wishes to her former competitor.
“Happy retirement my friend! You were a role model of technique in our sport and a hard opponent to defeat. I will always remember all the games we face each other. I wish all the best in your new chapter…”1
🇹🇭 Ratchanok Intanon: A Tearful Farewell
Thai former World Champion Ratchanok Intanon, who faced Tai nearly 40 times, had an emotional moment with her friend when Tai played one of her final Olympic matches. In her retirement message, Ratchanok showed their personal bond:
“Happy retirement for you Tai! Thanks for your hard work and some suggestions for me during this period!… See you around Girl.”
🇰🇷 An Se-young and Other Figures
Current badminton stars and commentators also shared their appreciation:
- An Se-young, the current world number one, simply wished her well, stating: “I hope you have only good things happen to you.”
- Gillian Clark, the renowned ‘voice of badminton’, called Tai “the best women’s singles player I’ve ever had the privilege to watch,” praising her exemplary sportsmanship and her “wonderful movement and exquisite skills.”
The collective sentiment highlights that Tai Tzu-ying’s legacy transcends her titles; she is universally celebrated as an artist of the sport who raised the standard for women’s singles badminton.