‘Want peace and growth,’ Saina Nehwal announces separation from Parupalli Kashyap

HYDERABAD: Indian badminton star and Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal confirmed her separation from her husband Parupalli Kashyap. Saina informed that she is ending her seven-year marriage with Kashyap on Instagram.

Her post said, 'Life takes us in different directions sometimes. After much thought and consideration, Kashyap Paruppalli 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 of Haryana gained attention after she won the World Junior Championships in 2008. She reached the quarterfinals of the Olympics the same year. Saina, who won the Arjuna Award in 2009 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2010, is the only Indian woman to be ranked number one in the world in badminton.

38-year-old Kashyap is a gold medalist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a quarter-finalist at the 2012 Olympics. Kashyap, who trained under legends like Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand, was ranked world number six. His career has been plagued by injuries.