Saina Nehwal Announces Separation From Husband Parupalli Kashyap.
Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal on Sunday announced her separation from fellow shuttler and husband Parupalli Kashyap, marking the end of their nearly six-year marriage.
Taking to Instagram, Nehwal shared an emotional note:
“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.”
The couple tied the knot in 2018 and had trained together at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. While Nehwal soared to international fame with her bronze at the 2012 London Olympics — becoming only the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari — Kashyap etched his name in Indian badminton history by clinching gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
In 2015, Saina became the first Indian woman to attain the World No. 1 ranking in women’s singles. Parupalli has not publicly commented on the separation.
In recent times, Saina has been battling fitness issues, including arthritis, which she revealed in 2024 during a podcast appearance with Olympic shooter Gagan Narang.
“The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours,” she said on the House of Glory podcast. “How will you challenge the best players in the world in such a state? I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results.”
As she navigates this difficult personal chapter, fans and the sports community have extended support to one of India’s most celebrated athletes.
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