Olympic badminton star Saina Nehwal revealed her separation from husband Parupalli Kashyap on Sunday. Nehwal, who secured a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, shared the announcement through her social media.
“Sometimes life moves us in different directions,” she posted on Instagram. “After deep reflection, Kashyap and I have chosen to separate. We are prioritizing peace, growth, and healing for ourselves. I’m thankful for the memories we built and wish him nothing but the best. We request privacy during this period,” she wrote.
The couple married in 2018 after years of training together at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. While Saina gained widespread acclaim for her achievements—becoming India’s first female badminton player to reach the World No.1 ranking in 2015—Kashyap also earned recognition by clinching a Commonwealth Games gold in 2014.
Saina was only the second Indian woman to claim an Olympic medal, following weightlifter Karnam Malleswari.
Kashyap has not issued any statement regarding the separation.
Last year, Saina spoke about her ongoing struggle with arthritis and the toll it has taken on her career. She explained that severe cartilage damage in her knee limited her training and made it challenging to compete at the top level.
“Two hours of practice isn’t enough to match the world’s best,” she admitted on the ‘House of Glory’ podcast with Gagan Narang.