PETALING JAYA: One of the best women’s singles shuttlers in the world will not be adding the World Championships title to her impressive collection.
Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying has decided that the world meet in Copenhagen will be her last.
The 29-year-old went down 16-21, 14-21 to eventual finalist Carolina Marin of Spain in the last eight.
World No. 4 Tzu-ying’s best achievement in the world meet was winning silver in 2021 in Huelva, Spain.
The Taiwanese had also won bronze last year in Tokyo.
“This will be my last World Championships and I want to thank my team for all the support,” said Tzu-ying.
“I didn’t make it to the next round but this is not the end and I will keep working hard.”
Earlier this year, Tzu-ying had announced her intentions of hanging up her racquet after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Her main goal is to try one final time to capture the elusive gold.
Tzu-ying had come close in 2020 in Tokyo before agonisingly losing to China’s Chen Yufei in the final.
She faces a tough battle to fulfil her dream as South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se-young, Japan’s world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi, world No. 3 Yufei and 2016 Rio Olympics champion Marin will all be also vying for the coveted crown.
Whether Tzu-ying wins the gold or not next year, she has undoubtedly cemented her position as one of the most decorated women’s singles players to ever play the game.
Besides her medals in the Olympics and world meet, her other impressive list of honours include gold (2018) and bronze (2014) in the Asian Games, three golds in the Asian Championships (2017, 2018, 2023) and a whopping 27 World Tour titles.
Tzu-ying will be out to defend her Asiad gold next month in Hangzhou.
