Indian badminton player Ashwini Ponnappa from Bengaluru has announced her retirement from her Olympic career following her participation in the Paris Olympics 2024. As a three-time Olympian, she acknowledged the immense pressure and expectations faced by athletes and emphasized the importance of preparation for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Her farewell signifies a significant moment for Indian badminton and reflects her longstanding commitment to representing India on the global stage for over fifteen years. Raised in Bengaluru, Ashwini expressed her admiration for sports like hockey, football, and cricket that have a strong fan base in the city. While she has always been dedicated to badminton, she advises young athletes on the importance of balancing education and sports, highlighting that education can serve as a fallback option if their sporting careers do not unfold as planned. Additionally, she mentioned the unfortunate elimination of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the competition, pointing out the lessons that can be gleaned from her experience.Ashwini understands the immense pressure faced by athletes like Vinesh, who put in tremendous effort to excel in their sport. Ashwini admires Vinesh's journey and believes there is much to be gained from her experiences. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining mental strength and avoiding external pressure, suggesting that staying away from social media during major competitions like the Olympics can be beneficial. Ashwini reflects on the negative criticism she faced during the Paris Olympics and acknowledges that not everyone can handle such scrutiny well. She emphasizes the need for proper funding and support to help athletes navigate the mental challenges of high-level competition. Ashwini acknowledges the dual nature of hope and pressure in athletics and underlines the significance of managing expectations effectively.