Parupalli Kashyap is an Indian professional badminton player from Hyderabad, Telangana. He is best known for being the first Indian male shuttler in 32 years to win a medal in badminton singles at the Commonwealth Games, claiming gold at the 2014 Glasgow edition. A product of the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Kashyap has represented India at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and BWF World Championships.
Key Facts
| Full name | Parupalli Kashyap |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 September 1986 |
| Place of birth | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India |
| Sport | Badminton (Men's Singles) |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Coach | Pullela Gopichand |
| Academy | Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderabad |
| Spouse | P. V. Sindhu's training partner; married to Saina Nehwal (December 2018) |
| Major honour | Gold medal, Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow |
| Awards | Arjuna Award (2012) |
Background
Kashyap was born on 8 September 1986 in Hyderabad. He took up badminton as a child, partly on medical advice to help manage asthma. He trained under former All England champion Pullela Gopichand at the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, the same setup that produced Saina Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth. He pursued his higher education in Hyderabad while continuing competitive training.
Career
Early career
Kashyap rose through the junior and national circuits in the mid-2000s, winning national titles and representing India in international team events. He became one of the first male players from the new generation of Gopichand's academy to break into the senior international circuit.
2010 Commonwealth Games
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, Kashyap won a bronze medal in men's singles, marking his first major multi-sport event podium finish.
2012 London Olympics
Kashyap qualified for the 2012 London Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals of men's singles, becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the last eight at the Olympic Games. He was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2012 in recognition of his achievements.
2014 Commonwealth Games gold
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Kashyap won the men's singles gold medal, defeating Singapore's Derek Wong in the final. The medal was significant as it ended a 32-year wait for an Indian men's singles gold at the Games, the previous one having been won by Syed Modi in 1982.
BWF Tour titles and later years
Kashyap won the Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold in Lucknow on multiple occasions and captured the U.S. Open Grand Prix Gold in 2015. He reached a career-best singles ranking inside the world top 10. From the late 2010s onwards, his playing career was disrupted by recurring injuries, including calf and back problems, which limited his appearances on the BWF World Tour.
Coaching
Kashyap has worked closely with Saina Nehwal as a personal coach and travelling partner during her later career, accompanying her at major tournaments and assisting in her training programmes at the Gopichand Academy.
Playing style
Kashyap is known for his attacking style of play, featuring strong jump smashes, quick footwork on a tall frame, and aggressive net play. His matches against players such as Lee Chong Wei, Chen Long and Viktor Axelsen on the world circuit highlighted his ability to compete at the highest level despite recurring fitness setbacks.
Personal life
Kashyap married fellow Indian badminton player and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal on 14 December 2018 in Hyderabad. The couple, who trained together for many years at the Gopichand Academy, are among the most prominent sporting couples in India.
Significance
Kashyap's career marked a turning point for Indian men's singles badminton. His Olympic quarter-final run in 2012 and Commonwealth Games gold in 2014 helped re-establish India as a force in men's singles after a long lean period, paving the way for the subsequent rise of players such as Kidambi Srikanth, H. S. Prannoy and Lakshya Sen.
Honours and Awards
- Gold medal — Commonwealth Games 2014 (Men's Singles), Glasgow
- Bronze medal — Commonwealth Games 2010 (Men's Singles), New Delhi
- Quarter-finalist — Olympic Games 2012, London
- U.S. Open Grand Prix Gold — 2015
- Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold — multiple titles
- Arjuna Award — 2012