TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tai Tzu-ying (戴資穎), Taiwan’s first world No. 1 in badminton, announced her retirement on Friday.

The 31-year-old shared her decision on social media, reflecting on the challenges of her final season. Tai revealed that a persistent knee injury, which began in late 2023, had repeatedly affected her performance and forced her to withdraw from matches, including her final Olympic campaign in Paris last year.

“I don’t want everyone to see me at my most vulnerable,” she wrote, explaining that she could not provide fans with a farewell ceremony. She also thanked fans for supporting her through the highs and lows of her career.

Tai’s badminton journey began in elementary school, and by sixth grade, she had become the youngest player to compete in Taiwan’s top division. She entered the international circuit in 2009, capturing her first professional title at the US Open two years later, according to CNA.

In 2014, she became the first Taiwanese player to win the Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals. By 2016, she had reached the pinnacle of the sport, claiming the world No. 1 ranking, which she held for a record 214 weeks.

Throughout her career, Tai amassed an impressive list of achievements, including three victories each at the All England Open and Asian Championships, a 27-match winning streak, and Taiwan’s first-ever badminton gold medal at the Asian Games. She also earned silver medals at both the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and World Championships, concluding her competitive career with a triumph at last year’s India Open.

Fellow badminton stars, including current world No. 1 An Se-young and Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, congratulated Tai on her retirement. Taiwan’s sports minister and Olympic gold medalist Lee Yang (李洋) reflected on his time as Tai’s teammate, calling it a truly special and memorable period in his life.

Earlier this year, during a career tribute, Tai spoke about the inevitability of athletes leaving the competitive arena but emphasized that her spirit and message of self-belief and perseverance would remain. Now, as she transitions beyond badminton, she looks forward to a life no longer bound by early-morning training routines.

“I am grateful for everything badminton has brought into my life,” Tai wrote. “Tai Tzu-ying's era on the court may be over, but I hope my spirit continues to inspire you.”