In a heartfelt and unexpected announcement on Sunday night, Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal revealed that she and her husband, Parupalli Kashyap, have decided to separate after nearly seven years of marriage. The news, which came via an Instagram story, has stirred emotions across the sports community.

The couple, who first met as young trainees at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, had shared a journey that evolved from training partners to life partners. After dating for more than a decade, they tied the knot in December 2018.

“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.

Kashyap, who is yet to make a public statement, posted an Instagram story hours before the news broke. His post showed him enjoying the Awakenings Festival in the Netherlands with friends and was captioned simply: “Bestest.”

Throughout their relationship, Saina and Kashyap supported each other’s careers. While Saina rose to global recognition as the first Indian woman to be ranked World No. 1 and the second Indian woman ever to win an Olympic medal, Kashyap carved out a legacy of his own. In 2014, he became the first Indian male badminton player in 32 years to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Following his retirement in 2024, Kashyap transitioned into coaching and began working with Saina during the later stages of her playing career. He took on the dual role of husband and coach as Saina battled injuries and aimed for a final comeback. Under his guidance, she secured a notable victory over PV Sindhu at the 2019 National Championships.

Though results were inconsistent due to physical setbacks, the couple’s determination remained constant. Kashyap was a frequent presence courtside, offering technical insights and encouragement, especially during her return from injury.

Saina has not played a competitive match since June 2023 and has not yet formally announced retirement. In a 2024 podcast conversation with Olympic shooter Gagan Narang, Saina shared her struggles with arthritis.
“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.
“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.”

The announcement brings to a close not only a high-profile sporting marriage but also a long-standing partnership that began on badminton courts and flourished both professionally and personally.