Two of the big names, Carla Nelte and Olga Konon, retire.

There will be no more international badminton for Carla Nelte (27) and Olga Konon (28). Both players have chosen to retire with immediate effect.

- Of course we regret the decision of Carla and Olga, because both players have a lot of experience. Their individual class and personality have been important and they have been role models in our training group, says Diemo Ruhnow, Head coach for doubles and mixed doubles at the German federation.

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- Losing these two top athletes before Tokyo 2020 is a great pity, but we can fully understand the motives for their decision.

More time for family.
For Carla Nelte 2017 and 2018 has been a test year, and she admits that is has been hard.

- I live with my friend in the Ruhr area, but the training for doubles and mixed doubles has been taking place in Saarbrücken since 1 September last year. Together with my coaches, we had agreed a test year until the individual World Championships 2018, during which I trained mainly in Saarland. From a sporting point of view, the DBV's decision to merge the two disciplines is the right step, but for me personally this does not fit, Carla Nelte says to www.badminton.de.

- I would like to have more time for the family and the job now and I'm looking forward to it.

Glad to get a chance in the doubles
For Olga Konon the international badminton show is also over. The 28-year-old does not find the travelling part of the life attractive anymore.

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- I recently married my partner Alen Roj and I look forward to seeing him more often, says Olga Konon.

- I am glad that in 2017 I got the chance from to practice as a doubles and mixed player with the goal of the Olympia 2020 but the retirement is the right decision for me at the moment. In the past few weeks I have noticed more and more that the many trips to the competitions are not as enjoyable as they used to be. It has been a great time, Konon says.

The doubles partner of Carla Nelte, Isabel Herttrich will from now on walk on court with Linda Efler. Peter Käesbauer, the mixed doubles partner of Olga Konon, is still to find his new partner.