Saina Nehwal recently announced her retirement from badminton and opened up about her separation from her husband, Parupalli Kashyap, in 2025. Amid this, know who he is and about their relationship.
Saina Nehwal is one of the most beloved athletes hailing from India. As a female badminton player, she has made a name for herself both nationally and internationally. Saina first started getting recognition after she won the Asian Satellite Tournament in New Delhi at the mere age of 15. Ever since then, she has achieved several milestones in her own career as well as for the country. For one, she became the youngest Asian player to win a 4-star tournament, such as the Philippines Open. In 2008, Saina became the first Indian to lift the World Junior Championships trophy. A year later, in 2009, she took the world's No. 2 spot, and by 2015, she achieved the world No. 1 ranking.
While Saina Nehwal's professional front has been nothing short of extraordinary, her personal life has also drawn significant attention since her marriage. For those unaware, Saina Nehwal tied the knot with former Indian international and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Parupalli Kashyap, in 2018. However, in 2025, Saina shocked everyone by announcing they were separating, though their break did not last long. Now, Saina Nehwal has opened up about the same in a recent podcast. Amid this, if you are interested in learning more about her husband, Parupalli Kashyap, and their relationship, keep reading.
Parupalli Kashyap was born on September 8, 1986, in Hyderabad, Telangana. According to reports, he started playing badminton from the young age of 11. Wanting to turn his passion into a career, he began training professionally at the Pullela Gopichand Academy under the renowned coach, Pullela Gopichand. Sadly, in 2004, Parupalli was diagnosed with asthma. However, it did not hinder him on the path to success as the athlete confidently stated that it's “not a condition that stops you from living life.” He proved his words by achieving what many only dream of: winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Before that, in 2012, Parupalli became the first Indian male badminton player to reach the Olympics quarterfinals. The very next year, in 2013, he rose to the No. 6 ranking in the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which is his career-best to date. In the same year, Parupalli was chosen as the Icon Player for the Banga Beats, which is a franchise under the inaugural Indian Badminton League (IBL). Taking on a leadership role in this team, Parupalli's reputation further skyrocketed as one of the top figures when it came to Indian badminton. Additionally, he also played a significant part in popularising the sport across the country.
Not many might be aware, but Parupalli Kashyap and Saina Nehwal met long before they became adults. According to reports, they first crossed paths as children in the late ‘90s. Following this, they also trained together in Hyderabad in the 2000s. It was in 2004 when they both moved to train under one of the most well-known coaches in India, Pullela Gopichand, at the Pullela Gopichand Academy. Later, both Saina and Parupalli participated in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where the former brought home a gold medal and the latter came back with a bronze.
Similarly, in 2012, when they participated in the London Olympics, Saina Nehwal became the first player to win an Olympic medal in the badminton category, and Parupalli became the first male shuttler to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament. Two years later, however, Parupalli managed to bag the gold in the Commonwealth Games. Saina, on the other hand, ascended to the world No. 1 spot in 2015 and also won a silver medal at the World Championships.
According to a report by Times Entertainment, Parupalli and Saina started dating in 2004. After spending more than a decade together, they decided to tie the knot in 2018. Ever since their marriage, fans remained in awe of their power couple dynamic in Indian sports. This is why, after seven long years of marriage, when Saina announced their separation via social media, it left everyone in a state of shock. In her July 13, 2025, post, she requested fans to respect their privacy during this transition, stating:
“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.”
However, as one might have already expected, their breakup was only a temporary one. In the same month, after a few days, Saina and Parupalli took to Instagram to announce their reconciliation. Their post from the time could be read as, "Sometimes distance teaches you the value of presence. Here we are - trying again." It is worth noting that Saina and Parupalli do not have any children. While the badminton duo's announcement to separate and get back together became the talk of the town last year, their relationship seems to be back in the spotlight once again. Recently, Saina addressed the whole situation in detail. She confessed:
"It was a misunderstanding. Since we've known each other for so many years, we sat down and spoke things through. We realised that fulfilling a relationship is not easy. Our parents also spoke to us. In the end, we made sure that whatever had happened, or any misunderstandings there were, were resolved, and that we moved forward. We decided to keep everything positive. Now we're together, and we're happy."
What are your thoughts on Saina Nehwal's husband, Parupalli Kashyap and their relationship? Let us know.
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