Carolina Marin broke a billion Indian hearts when she won the Olympic badminton gold in 2016. However, Indians are sadder than ever with the news of her retirement, a testament to her timelessness and class.
Despite beating PV Sindhu in the final, Marin did it with so much class and grace that nobody held anything against her. Indians remember her for her pure celebrations and not for ridiculing her opponent.
Marin's retirement brings back memories of her historic match against Sindhu, who had a great chance at history. Sindhu looked great in the run-up to the final, both mentally and in terms of her game.
Marin's win marked a new era in women's badminton, ending China's hegemony and showing the world how to win without offending one's opponent or their fans.
Today, India pays tribute to Marin with a heavy heart, and she deserves every bit of it. Her legacy will live on, and she will always be remembered for her timelessness and class.
