Beijing (CNS) -- Badminton medalist Bao Chunlai has submitted his retirement application to the Chinese national team and the Badminton World Federation (BWF), citing pain in his knees, according to the official BWF website on Wednesday.
Bao, 28, later confirmed the news, saying that the application had been approved by the national team. "I've been struggling with knee pain for so long. It is getting harder for me to hold on," he said.
In recent years, injuries to Bao's knees and ankles have troubled him during nearly every training term, eventually causing him to lose his ranking in the top five.
In August, Bao lost at the World Championships, making him feel even more hopeless about his prospects for the London Olympics.
The head coach of the national team, Li Yongbo, told CNS that he had attempted to persuade Bao to stay on as a coach, "but he insisted that he would prefer to restart his career in other fields because of age and health reasons. We respect his decision of course."
However, Bao may participate in the 2013 national games, upon future talks with the Hunan Provincial Sports Administration.
Bao's girlfriend and former breaststroke queen Luo Xuejuan delivered her blessing on Wednesday. "If he made the decision after serious consideration, I hope that everybody will support his next plan. It is time to face the future with a smile on his face."
