SINGAPORE: After suffering multiple injuries at the Commonwealth Games, gold medallist Jessica Tan has decided to call time on her competitive badminton career and resume her studies in sports management. She will also receive the maximum payout of S$100,000 from the Singapore Badminton Association’s (SBA) post-career gratuity programme.
Tan had previously withdrawn from her undergraduate place in the BSc (Sport Science & Management) programme at Nanyang Technological University in 2011 to compete full-time.
“Jessica and Terry have done Singapore proud, and they have certainly inspired more young boys and girls to play badminton. Jessica had to overcome significant personal adversity to qualify for the Olympics, and SBA would like to thank Jessica for her sacrifices and hard work for over a decade.
“SBA is firmly behind her in the next phase of her sporting career, and is delighted that she will be receiving the highest post-career gratuity payout of S$100,000,” said Lawrence Leow, SBA’s president in a media release earlier this month.
Established in 2023, the post-career gratuity programme aims to provide financial security to Singapore’s national badminton players after their retirement. The amount awarded is based on an athlete’s highest world ranking and how long they represented Singapore; payouts range from S$16,000 to S$100,000.
Tan has dedicated over 10 years to representing Singapore in various competitions, both local and international, since joining the national team at the age of 18. She won her first senior title at the 2014 Singapore International tournament in the mixed doubles event with Terry Hee.
One of Tan’s badminton highlights was winning the gold medal at the mixed doubles event with husband Hee at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The duo sailed to a 21-16, 21-15 win against English pair Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith in the finals, giving Singapore its historic first gold medal in the category.
“After dedicating so many years of my life to the sport of badminton, there is an inevitably bittersweet feeling stepping away from these exhilarating competitions. I still remember vividly the match point at 20-15 in the Commonwealth Games when we won, collapsing onto the ground weeping tears of relief and joy,” said 31-year-old Tan, who sustained multiple injuries in her illustrious career, which included a torn meniscus in her left knee in 2021 that required surgery.
“But one never really retires from badminton; it will always be a part of my life. I’m excited about going back to school again, and I’m grateful to SBA, SportSG, and sponsors for their generous support throughout my career,” said Tan.
In November last year, the SBA announced that after careful consideration, Hee would have a new mixed doubles partner, Jin Yujia. At the Odisha Masters, the pair won the silver medal during their second competition a month later.
Tan’s last competitive tournaments were last September when she competed in the Korea Open, Hong Kong Open, and Macau Open. She and her mixed doubles partner Hee exited all three competitions in the Round of 32.
Her best performance in 2024 came in the January Malaysia Open. They ended the competition in third place, after they went down 16-21, 21-16 to Kim Won Ho and Jeong Na Eun of South Korea in the semi-finals.
In 2023, the mixed doubles pair took top spot in both the Guwahati Masters, and Irish Open. They also finished runners-up in the Odisha Masters and Abu Dhabi Masters.
“It has not been an easy journey. One of my key goals when I committed to badminton as a career was to represent Singapore at the Olympics, and my mother’s passing in 2023 exacted a heavy physical and emotional toll on me. My husband and mixed doubles partner Terry was very supportive, and I’m glad he will be having another go at the Olympics with Yujia,” added Tan, who, along with her partner, became Singapore’s first mixed doubles team to qualify for the Olympics in 2024.
In the Olympic Games in Paris, Tan and Hee won one and lost two matches in Group D. Their only win in the round robin came against Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai of the USA (21-17, 21-12), and they lost to opponents from China and Malaysia.
Before commencing her studies, Tan will work at the SBA to hone her skills in the pathway programme planning, focusing on business development and communications. She will also be assisting Singapore national team doubles head coach Paulus Firman with coaching.
“It’s a delight seeing Jessica and Terry grow and mature over the past few years, and at times, I feel like a parent in this coaching relationship. The path to the Olympics certainly was not an easy one, and Jessica has shown grit and determination in the face of adversity. I hope she will be an inspiration to the young athletes who are considering badminton as a career,” shared doubles head coach Firman.