New Delhi, July 31 -- Swapna Barman, the first Indian heptathlete to win a gold medal at the Asian Games in the combined discipline, announced her retirement from athletics on Friday.
The 29-year-old Swapna, who won her historic gold at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and is alsoa former continental champion, said a run of injuries had finally forced her hand.
"Over the years, I have faced many injuries, including a slipped disc and knee injuries. I tried to fight through the pain and keep going, but now my body is no longer supporting me the way it once did," Barman noted in her retirement message.
"This is one of the most difficult decisions of my life. Athletics has been more than just a sport for me - it has been my identity, my passion...