• She was honored with Padma Shri in 2010 and Padma Bhushan in 2016 for her contribution in the field of Sports.

• What? Retirement from competitive badminton
• By Whom? Saina Nehwal, Olympic bronze medallist, former world No.1
• Last Competitive Match: Singapore Open 2023
• Awards: Padma Bhushan (2016), Padma Shri (2010), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2009–10), Arjuna Award (2009)

Achievements:
Olympics: She clinched the bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympics in London, United Kingdom(UK), becoming the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal.
World Ranking: Became the first Indian woman to achieve World No. 1 ranking in singles in 2015.
BWF Superseries: Won her first Badminton World Federation (BWF) Superseries title at the Indonesia Open in 2009 (Jakarta, Indonesia), the first for an Indian, and accumulated 10 Superseries titles including Singapore, Hong Kong, Denmark, Australia, China, and India Opens.
Junior Titles: Won the World Junior Badminton Championships in 2008 and the Commonwealth Youth Games girls’ singles gold in 2008 in Pune, Maharashtra.
Commonwealth Games: Secured gold in women’s singles at the 2010 New Delhi (Delhi) and 2018 Gold Coast editions in Australia.
BWF GP Titles: Claimed 10 BWF Grand Prix (GP) titles including Philippines, Chinese Taipei, India, Swiss, Thailand, Syed Modi, and Malaysia Masters.
Awards: 
Padma Bhushan (2016): Awarded March 28, 2016, by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan for her 2015 World No. 1 ranking, China Open Superseries Premier win
Padma Shri (2010): Conferred April 2010 (age 20) as first badminton player with this honor, recognizing 2009 Indonesia Open gold (first Indian Super Series win) and Commonwealth Games success.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2009): India’s highest sporting honor, awarded 2009 (age 19) for historic rise from world rank 100+ to top 10, Indonesia Open victory. First badminton player; only second woman after Karnam Malleswari.