Source:REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
[Saba Sports News] Carolina Marín Martin, gold medalist of 2016 Rio Olympics and three-time world champion from Spain, had to withdraw from the badminton competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to a right knee injury. Indonesian player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung claimed the bronze medal in the women’s singles event without a fight. In response, the president of the Spanish Badminton Association, Andoni Azurmendi, spoke out, stating that this was a very difficult moment for Marín and all Spanish athletes. He pointed out that Marín was just a step away from reaching the Olympic final for the second time and had been fighting for the second gold medal, but the injury prevented her from winning a medal. He openly suggested that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should award Marín the bronze medal, as she truly deserved it.
Marín, who is 31 years old, has previously endured two serious knee injuries, but her resilience has driven her to strive for her peak performance. In the semifinals of the badminton women’s singles at the Paris Olympics, Marín faced Chinese player He Bingjiao. After winning the first game, she unexpectedly suffered another knee injury in the following game. At that moment, Marín knelt down in sorrowful tears and had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the match, highlighting the unpredictable nature of fate.