Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal has announced her separation from husband Parupalli Kashyap. The couple ended their marriage after nearly seven years. Saina shared the news on social media on Sunday night.
The announcement came as a surprise to fans and the sports world. Saina posted a message on Instagram. She said,
“Life takes us in different directions sometimes. After much thought and consideration, Kashyap Parupalli and I have decided to part ways. We’re choosing peace, growth, and healing – for ourselves and each other. I’m grateful for the memories and wish nothing but the best moving forward.”
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Saina and Kashyap got married in December 2018. They had trained together for many years at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. Their friendship and support for each other had been well known in the Indian badminton circuit.
Saina Nehwal is one of India’s greatest badminton players. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She is also a two-time Commonwealth Games champion. In 2008, she won the BWF World Junior Championships and became the first Indian woman to reach the Olympic quarterfinals.
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She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2009 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2010. She is also the only Indian female badminton player to become world No. 1.
Parupalli Kashyap also had a successful badminton career. He won the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He was the first Indian male shuttler in 32 years to achieve that. He reached the quarterfinals at the 2012 London Olympics and had a career-high world ranking of No. 6 in 2013.
Kashyap retired from international badminton in 2024. He has since moved into coaching. Though their marriage has ended, both Saina and Kashyap remain respected names in Indian sport. Fans continue to wish them well for the future.
