Saina Nehwal announces separation from husband

Saina Nehwal, India's legendary badminton player, announced her decision to separate from long-time husband Parupalli Kashyap on Sunday. Saina took to Instagram to announce her decision via a brief statement. Saina and Parupalli have separated after nearly 7 years of marriage. Notably, Kashyap Parupalli is also a badminton player. "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.

Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap got married in 2018. Saina and Parupalli both trained at the Pullela Gopichand academy in Hyderabad. While Saina grabbed the headlines with her brilliant performances and bronze at the Olympics, Parupalli also made a name for himself with a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2014. She was the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleshwari.

Saina Nehwal made her name in Indian sports history by becoming the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal, claiming bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. She won a gold and a silver medal at the World Championships, three Commonwealth Games gold medals (women’s singles in 2010 and 2018, and the mixed team event in 2010), along with two bronze medals from the Asian Games (2014 and 2018). In 2015, she made another landmark achievement by becoming the first Indian woman to attain the world No. 1 badminton ranking. In recent years, however, her performance declined, and she played her final professional match in June 2023. Although she hasn't formally announced retirement, her priorities have moved away from active competition.