2024 saw the retirement of several legendary Indian athletes who left an indelible mark on their respective sports.
From the towering presence of Sunil Chhetri in football to the trailblazing achievements of Rani Rampal in hockey and Dipa Karmakar in gymnastics, these icons shaped the history of Indian sports.
PR Sreejesh, Rohan Bopanna, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, and Vinesh Phogat also bid farewell, drawing the curtain on an illustrious careers that inspired generations.
Here’s a look at their remarkable journeys and lasting legacies.
1. PR Sreejesh
The three-time Olympian PR Sreejesh has been a cornerstone of the Indian men’s hockey since his debut at the 2006 South Asian Games.
Hailing from a farming family in Kerala, Sreejesh initially pursued athletics before excelling as a goalkeeper under the guidance of coaches Jayakumar and Ramesh Kolappa.
Known for his instincts and composure, he played pivotal roles in India’s 2014 Asian Games gold and the 2015 FIH Hockey World League bronze.
He captained India at Rio 2016 and mentored young goalkeepers in recent years.
Sreejesh capped off his illustrious career by winning a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics before announcing his retirement.
Honored with the Arjuna Award (2015) and Padma Shri (2017), he leaves a lasting legacy in Indian hockey.
2. Sunil Chhetri
Sunil Chhetri, one of India’s most decorated footballers, retired from international football in 2024 after a remarkable 19-year career.
The 40-year-old announced his decision earlier in the year, with his final match being a FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait on June 6.
Chhetri holds the record for most international goals for India, netting 94 goals in 151 appearances.
Globally, he ranks fourth in the all-time list of international goals, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei.
He is the only Indian with over 150 caps and the only footballer from India to have scored across three different decades.
Chhetri’s achievements include four international hat-tricks and being the only footballer to receive the Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honor, in 2021.
His retirement marks the end of an era for Indian football.
3. Rohan Bopanna
Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna announced that he would no longer be representing India after his first-round exit in the men’s doubles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 44-year-old, a veteran of three Olympic Games, stated, “This will definitely go down as my last event for the country.”
Despite stepping away from national duties, Bopanna will continue competing on the ATP circuit. Earlier in 2024, he became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, claiming the Australian Open men’s doubles title with Matthew Ebden.
Bopanna donned Indian colours over a two decade period. This included a 21-year Davis Cup tenure and two Asian Games gold medals.
He also won the mixed doubles title at the 2017 French Open and only narrowly missed an Olympic medal at Rio 2016 when he finished fourth in the mixed doubles with Sania Mirza.
4. Vinesh Phogat
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, a trailblazer in women’s wrestling, announced her retirement after an unfortunate disqualification in the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Phogat, who had made history as the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final, was barred from competing due to being 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in.
Vinesh’s Olympic journey was marked by heartbreaks.
At Rio 2016, a knee injury forced her out in the quarter-finals. At Tokyo 2020, she suffered a shock quarter-final defeat which only subsequently compounded her mental health struggles.
However, her resilience shone through with multiple gold medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games and two world championship bronze medals.
And the highlight of her Paris campaign was a stunning upset over defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki, a moment that will forever be etched in the minds of Indian fans.
5. Deepa Karmakar
Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympics, announced her retirement from the sport at 31 years of age.
A trailblazer in Indian gymnastics, Karmakar’s illustrious career was marked by groundbreaking achievements, including a fourth-place finish in the women’s vault at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where she performed the iconic and highly challenging Produnova vault.
Dipa gained prominence after winning bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to medal at the Games.
Over her career, she achieved several historic milestones, including a gold medal at the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Mersin, Turkey, and, most recently, gold in vault at the 2024 Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships, another first for India.
Overcoming obstacles such as being born with flat feet—a condition considered unfavorable for gymnasts—Dipa’s journey from a young girl in Tripura to a global sports icon inspired millions.
A Padma Shri and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardee, Dipa’s legacy goes beyond her medals.
She paved the way for Indian gymnasts to dream big, breaking barriers and proving that sheer determination and hard work can overcome odds of any nature.
6.Prajnesh Gunneshwaran
Indian tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran announced his retirement at the age of 35.
Over his career, he won two ATP Challenger titles, eight ITF singles titles, and one ITF doubles title.
Gunneswaran represented India in the Davis Cup and won a bronze medal in men’s singles at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
In 2019, he became the highest-ranked Indian singles player, reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 75.
That same year, he made his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open.
Known for his consistency on the court, Gunneswaran has inspired a new generation of Indian tennis players with his achievements.
7. Rani Rampal
Rani Rampal, a trailblazer in Indian women’s hockey, announced her retirement at the age of 30.
The former captain represented India in 254 international matches, scoring 120 goals, and was pivotal in leading the team to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Hailing from Shahbad, Haryana, Rani’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of India’s greatest hockey players is a tale that will be told to inspire generations to come.
She debuted for India at just 14 years of age, becoming the youngest to play at the senior level.
Over her illustrious career, Rani achieved significant milestones, including a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, victory at the 2017 Women’s Asia Cup, and individual honors like the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awards.
Plagued by injuries since Tokyo 2020, Rani transitioned into coaching roles, mentoring the under-17 team and the Soorma Hockey Club.
Her iconic No. 28 jersey was retired by Hockey India, marking the end of an era for a player celebrated as the “queen of Indian hockey.”
A golden chapter
The retirements of these icons mark the end of a golden chapter in Indian sports history.
Their achievements, both individual and team, have inspired millions across the nation and beyond.
As they step into new roles, whether as mentors, coaches, or advocates for their sports, their influence will continue to shape the next generation of athletes.
India bids them a fond farewell, cherishing the memories and milestones they’ve gifted to the world of sports.
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