Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal has announced her separation from husband and fellow badminton player Parupalli Kashyap. “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. Thank you for understanding and respecting our privacy during this time,” Saina wrote on her Instagram story.
The couple had a love marriage on December 14, 2018, in Hyderabad. Their relationship began in 2007, though they had known each other since 2005. Both trained under Pullela Gopichand at his academy during the early years of their careers.
Saina Nehwal, from Haryana, created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in badminton, clinching bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. She was ranked World No. 1 in women’s singles in 2015 and is still the only Indian female badminton player to achieve this feat.
Saina has represented India in three Olympics and won gold medals in the 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also won the BWF World Junior Championship in 2008 and was honoured with the Arjuna Award (2009) and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2010).
Parupalli Kashyap, from Hyderabad, won the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, ending a 32-year-long wait for a medal in the event. He reached the quarter-finals at the 2012 London Olympics and was ranked World No. 6 in 2013.
