Five-time Commonwealth medallist Rajiv Ouseph has today announced his retirement from international badminton.

Ouseph, England’s number one ranked singles player, will step down after next month’s World Championships in Basel, Switzerland, therefore ruling him out of qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Having first represented Team England at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Ouseph competed at three games in total, medalling on each occasion.

"I love playing for Team England, and I’ve always loved being part of the big team events. I’ve got a lot of very good memories to look back on and that’s partly why I think it’s the right time now to move on," said Ouseph.

"For me, one of my favourite Team England memories will always be making my Commonwealth Games debut in Delhi in 2010.

"I was still very new to representing Team England and that was my very first multi-sport event, and it just gave me a different insight into sport and how athletes engage with each other and compete. 

"It was just something very new to me, but I was lucky I had good people around me to help me along the way and I managed to get a medal in my very first Commonwealth Games, so that will always be very special."

After winning a men’s singles silver and a mixed team bronze at Delhi 2010, Ouseph went on to secure a second Commonwealth silver medal in the mixed team event at Glasgow 2014 before winning double bronze in both the men’s singles and mixed team event at last year’s Gold Coast games.

"In Delhi I had no expectations and played with no fear, in Glasgow I had high hopes for myself and even though I maybe didn’t do as well as I hoped, I still enjoyed that experience because of achieving a silver with the team," added Ouseph. 

"And the last one on the Gold Coast last year, because I was a lot older, I felt like I could appreciate the experience a lot more, and I really wanted to take every part of it in. 

"So they were all very different, but all equally good experiences."

A nine time national champion, Ouseph has been England’s undisputed number one in men’s singles since 2008 and holds the record for being the only player in the 55 year history of the ‘Nationals’ to win the men’s singles title for seven back to back years.

Ouseph announces his retirement as reigning English national champion, ranked 36th in the world with 374 career wins on the world circuit to his name.