Former Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal recently announced her separation from fellow badminton player Parupalli Kashyap, adding to the growing list of high-profile splits in Indian sports. The couple, who tied the knot in 2018 after years of training together at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, confirmed their divorce through social media.YUZVENDRA CHAHALIn March 2025, Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and social media influencer Dhanashree Verma were granted a divorce. Married in 2020, the couple had filed a joint petition for mutual consent in February, having been separated since June 2022.
SHIKHAR DHAWANFormer India opener Shikhar Dhawan’s marriage to Aesha Mukherjee ended in October 2023. The couple, who married in 2012 and have a son named Zoravar, were granted a divorce by a Delhi court, which cited cruelty inflicted on Dhawan by his estranged wife as the primary reason.
Poll
Do you think social media announcements of divorces are appropriate?
SANIA MIRZA Tennis ace Sania Mirza and former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik publicly announced their separation in 2024 after 14 years of marriage. They had reportedly been living apart for several months prior to the announcement. Malik has since remarried, tying the knot with Pakistani actress Sana Javed, while Mirza remains single.MOHAMMED SHAMI Fast bowler Mohammed Shami and his wife Hasin Jahan separated back in 2018 amid serious allegations of domestic violence and infidelity. Their divorce case continues to move through the courts, with unresolved legal issues related to alimony and other matters.HARDIK PANDYA Another notable split came in 2024 when Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya and model Natasa Stankovic announced the end of their marriage. The couple made the announcement via social media and have since gone their separate ways.SAINA NEHWAL AND PARUPALLI KASHYAPSaina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap, who were teammates before becoming life partners, had been key figures in India’s badminton success story. Nehwal notably won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, cementing her legacy in Indian sport.
