Saina Nehwal is an Indian badminton player with several accolades to her name. A former world number one, she has won over twenty international titles, which include ten super titles. Saina hails from Hisar, Haryana and and is the only Indian female player to achieve the title of world number one and the second Indian after Prakash Padukone to achieve this honour. While her professional game has been decorated with stars, it seems like her personal life has hit a rough patch, as the veteran player has called it quits with her husband, Parupalli Kashyap, after seven years of marriage.
Saina Nehwal announces separation from husband, Parupalli Kashyap
Olympic bronze medal-winning veteran badminton player, Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap have decided to part ways. It was on July 13, 2025, when Saina took to her Instagram stories and shared a note. The badminton players got married on December 14, 2018, in a private wedding ceremony. However, their marital bliss seems to have been short-lived as they are now separated after seven years of marriage.
Saina Nehwal, in her Instagram story, shared how life sometimes takes people in different directions. She added that she and her husband, Parupalli, had decided to part ways after much consideration. She shared that they are choosing peace and healing for themselves and each other. Saina concluded the post by stating that she was grateful for the memories and wished nothing but the best for Parupalli moving forward. She was quoted as saying:
“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.”
More about Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap
Saina and Parupalli trained together at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad from their early days. While Saina became a global icon with her Olympic bronze and world No. 1 ranking, Parupalli became world number 6 and won the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold. Parupalli Kashyap has now transitioned to coaching since retiring from his playing career in early 2024.
Saina, on the other is considered one of the greatest badminton players the world has seen. However, her journey as a player might come to an end soon as the badminton star was considering retirement in 2024. She has not played since her first-round exit from the Singapore Open in June 2023. The 35-year-old had opened up on her struggle with arthritis in the House of Glory podcast by Gagan Narang and stated:
“I am also thinking about it.”
Saina Nehwal has also dabbled in politics with the Bharatiya Janata Party. She joined the party in the presence of the party’s national general secretary, Arun Singh, on January 29, 2020. Her sister, Abu Chandranshu Nehwal, has also joined the political party. She stated that it was Prime Minister, Narendra Modi who had inspired her.
What are your thoughts on Saina Nehwal’s separation from Parupalli Kashyap?
Next Read: Radhika Yadav’s Cousin Dismisses Charges Of Restrictions At Home, ‘Agar Bandishein Hoti..’