Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

Year Ender 2024: Not Only Cricketers, THESE Indian Legends From Other Sports Also Bid Adieu to Their Professionsa

While Indian media have heavily covered the retirements of cricketers, the retirement announcements of athletes from other sports should be equally covered or recalled

Ravichandran Ashwin made headlines in almost every Indian newspaper and news website after he suddenly bid adieu to cricket amidst the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-arm legendary spin bowler showered praises from all quarters as he left the squad and flew back to India from Australia.

Ashwin isn't the only cricketer to hang up his boots this year, as several other Indian cricketers have left the sport. Even Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20 format but not from international cricket.

Given that the majority of media houses are publishing year-end articles, cricketers' retirements are being recalled, but we have hardly come across articles remembering Indian legends from other sports who also bid goodbye to their professions.

Therefore, in this article, take a look at those other Indian legends who called time on their careers.

Captain Fantastic

On May 16, India's Captain Fantastic Sunil Chhetri took to his social media platforms and announced that his final game would be on June 6 against Kuwait. After the game, Chhetri hung his studs and bid goodbye to his 19-year-old football career. In the all-time highest individual international goal-scorer list, Chhetri stands in the fourth position with 94 goals, behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (128), Ali Daei (108), and Lionel Messi (106).

The Great Wall of Indian Hockey

Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, often known as "The Great Wall of Indian Hockey," bid goodbye to his hockey career after a period of 20 years. He left the pitch on high by winning the bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics by defeating Spain. Sreejesh is a recipient of the Padma Sri, Khel Ratna Award, World Games Awards, and three FIH Male Goalkeeper of the Year awards.

Vinesh Phogat

2024 did not turn out to be a fruitful year for wrestler Vinesh Phogat. A disqualification from the finale of the Olympic Games due to a weight infraction did not sit well with her, and she bid goodbye to the sport. Winner of multiple medals across tournaments such as the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Wrestling Championships, Vinesh is also the Arjuna Award and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. In 2019, she became the first Indian to get nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Rohan Bopanna

Oldest Grand Slam winner, oldest man at no. 1 ranking, oldest ATP Masters 1000, and more, Rohan Bopanna is one of India's veteran tennis players who hung up his tennis racket following his early exit in this year's Olympic Games. Winner of the Australian Open (doubles) and French Open (mixed) and six ATP Finals 1000 (doubles) titles, he is also the recipient of the Ekalavya Award, Arjuna Award, and Padma Shri Award.

As we prepare to bid goodbye to 2024, we thank these sports personalities who gave their all to uplift sports that are less followed in India compared to cricket.