Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap Announce Mutual Separation
Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap Part Ways
Indian badminton sensation Saina Nehwal and her husband, former top player Parupalli Kashyap, have mutually decided to end their marriage. This surprising announcement was made by Saina via her Instagram account on Sunday.
In her heartfelt message, Saina expressed, "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."
She further added, "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."
The couple tied the knot in December 2018.
Saina, who hails from Haryana, first gained prominence by winning the BWF World Junior Championships in 2008. That same year, she made her Olympic debut but had to wait until 2012 to secure a medal at the Summer Games.
In 2008, she became the first Indian woman to reach the Olympic quarter-finals, defeating then-world number five Wang Chen from Hong Kong, although she lost to Indonesia's Maria Kristin Yulianti in the next round. The following year, Saina made history as the first Indian to win a BWF Super Series event.
Her outstanding contributions to badminton earned her the Arjuna Award in 2009 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2010. Saina has significantly impacted Indian badminton, representing the country in numerous prestigious competitions and securing various accolades.
Notably, she is the only female Indian player to achieve the world No.1 ranking in badminton, inspiring countless young athletes across the nation.
Parupalli Kashyap, a gold medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, made history as the first Indian badminton player to win a Commonwealth gold in 32 years. He trained under renowned coaches Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand.
Kashyap also became the first Indian male badminton player to reach the Olympic quarter-finals during the 2012 Summer Games. He achieved his highest world ranking of six in 2013 but faced challenges in maintaining it due to recurring injuries.