![](https://img.topnews.live/resize-4/photos/638353937577725916.heic)
Spanish badminton star Carolina Marín's bid for an Olympic gold medal came to a heartbreaking end as she was forced to withdraw from her semifinal match against China's He Bingjiao due to a knee injury. This unfortunate incident occurred after Marín had won the first game and was leading the second 10-5 before collapsing on the court in pain.
Marín, who has previously undergone surgery for two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, appeared to have aggravated her knee once again during a crucial moment in the match. Despite attempting to continue by wearing a knee sleeve, her movement was severely hampered, leading to her eventual retirement from the game.
![](https://img.topnews.live/resize-4/photos/638356317045707065.heic)
![](https://img.topnews.live/resize-4/photos/638353937577725916.heic)
![](https://img.topnews.live/resize-4/photos/638362609927416659.heic)
He Bingjiao expressed her sadness over Marín's injury and praised her opponent's fighting spirit, noting that Marín had been struggling with an ankle issue but still managed to compete at a high level. He wished Marín a speedy recovery and hoped to see her back on the court soon.
The gold medal match will now feature He Bingjiao facing off against An Se-young of South Korea. He acknowledged Marín's strong performance in their semifinal encounter and credited her for motivating her to keep pushing forward in the competition.