Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap part ways after seven years of marriage

The duo, who married in December 2018, trained together from their early days at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad and were considered one of Indian sport’s most high-profile couples. (File photo)

Indian badminton stalwarts Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap, late Sunday evening, announced their decision to part ways, ending nearly seven years of marriage.

The couple confirmed the development through a statement shared on social media.

Nehwal, a former world No. 1 and Olympic bronze medallist, made the announcement via Instagram, stating that the decision was taken after “much thought and consideration.”

“Life takes us in different directions sometimes,” Nehwal wrote. “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.”

The duo, who married in December 2018, trained together from their early days at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad and were considered one of Indian sport’s most high-profile couples.

Nehwal has been a pioneer in Indian badminton, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport at the London 2012 Games. Over the years, she amassed numerous titles, including the 2009 BWF Super Series and two Commonwealth Games gold medals. In 2015, she became the first Indian woman to attain the world No. 1 ranking in badminton.

Kashyap, a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, also made history by reaching the men’s singles quarter-finals at the 2012 London Olympics, the first Indian male shuttler to do so. He achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 6 in 2013, but a series of injuries hampered his progress in subsequent years.

The couple’s decision has taken the sporting world by surprise, with fans and fellow athletes expressing their support for the two.