Five Indian players who might retire in 2021

The dawn of a new year and particularly this new decade comes with a relaisation that while young players are slowly carving out their names in the world of sports, there are legends of sports who have been our inspirations are nearing the end of their sporting careers. One of the biggest surprises came last year when former Indian cricket team captain M.S. Dhoni announced his retirement on the auspicious day of Independence Day. Similarly, 2021 is also likely to bring its own set of career ends with a host of influential names hanging their boots and bidding us farewells. Here's a look at the list of players who might retire this year:

Leander Paes

Leander Paes

Veteran Indian tennis player Leander Paes extended his playing career by another year to bid for an eighth Olympic appearance following the postponement of the Tokyo Games to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Paes, who is 47, announced late last year that 2020 would be his "farewell year" as a professional before he hangs up his racket. The Rio Olympics was his seventh Olympic appearance since he made his first tilt at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Born to parents from sporting backgrounds, the Indian turned professional in 1991 as a singles player rising to world number 73 with his serve-and-volley game.

He went on to win bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games in men's singles, quite a feat in a cricket-mad country starved of individual success in Olympic sports. Paes started his professional career in 1991 and has won 18 doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He has not tasted grand slam success since he and Martina Hingis won the mixed doubles title at the 2016 French Open.

Mary Kom

Mary Kom (Source: Lifestyle/Twitter)

After years of speculation over her retirement, six-time world champion MC Mary Kom had said she plans to hang her gloves after winning the elusive gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The 37-year-old has been an inspiring force in Indian boxing. In her 18-year long illustrious career, she has won six World Championships, an Olympic bronze medal, and five Asian Championships. Besides being an active and top-level boxer, she is also a sitting Rajya Sabha MP. Mary Kom won the the bronze medal in the flyweight category at the 2012 London Olympics. In her swansong, she now aims to change the shade of her medal to gold.

P R Sreejesh

PR Sreejesh (Source: Hockey India)

P R Sreejesh who has been the guardian at the goal for Indian men's hockey team is in the twilight zone of his career. Sreejesh made the Junior national team in 2004. He made his debut in the senior national team in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo. Following India's win at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, he was awarded the 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament'. He has been a regular member since 2011, after saving two penalty stroke in the Asian Champions Trophy Final against Pakistan, a match-winning performance. His second 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament' award came at the 2013 Asia Cup, with India finishing second in the tournament. He was a part of the team that won silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sreejesh had earlier played for India at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and then World Cup in 2014. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in Indian's gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final. At the 2014 Champions Trophy and 2018 Champions Trophy, he was adjudged "Goalkeeper of the Tournament". Following impressive performances in 2014, he was nominated for the award of Best Male Goalkeeper; he eventually lost to Jaap Stockmann of the Netherlands.

Sushil Kumar

Sushil Kumar (Source: Malayala Manorama)

Wrestler Sushil Kumar is hailed as one of the greatest Olympians from India in recent times. He won bronze at Beijing 2008 (66kg freestyle wrestling) and a silver at London 2012, Sushil is the only Indian to have won two individual Olympic medals since the country’s Independence in 1947. The three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist has now switched to the 74kg category and will be looking to seal a spot in Tokyo. His last major appearance was at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Sushil is currently working on getting fit for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers and has opted to miss the Wrestling Nationals as well.

Achanta Sharath Kamal

Achanta Sharath Kamal (Source: TTFI)

India's ace paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal has been the most successful player of the Indian table tennis teams for more than a decade. The four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist could also be set for his final Olympics if he manages to make it to Tokyo 2020.

At 38, Sharath Kamal continues to be the top-ranked Indian paddler. He has represented India at three Olympics now - Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016. Kamal is currently set to travel to Germany and play in the Bundesliga with his club Borussia Dusseldorf as he looks to step up his preparations for the Olympics qualifiers.

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