Veteran shuttler Parupalli Kashyap confirms his retirement plans and takes up coaching

Indian shuttler Parupalli Kashyap confirmed his intention to retire from the sport shortly. However, currently, only an official confirmation missing from his statement. Kashyap, 37, had had injuries catch up to him, forcing him to spend prolonged spells on the sidelines, racing to be fit for the major events. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist, however, has immediate plans to enter into coaching and was even seen guiding Kidambi Srikanth from the sidelines at the Malaysia Open 2024. 

What motivated Parupalli to take up this decision?

Kashyap told The Indian Express, “The injuries are forcing me to quit though I haven’t officially announced retirement. I wanted to start working with Gopi sir because it would be foolish not to learn from his experience. I started with a batch of U-17 and U-19s for a month, and he gave me the freedom to coach whoever I wanted to. Then Srikanth approached me to help him, and I’m thankful to Gopi Sir for allowing me to work with Srikanth.”

Kashyap, who was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2012, has had a remarkable career as a player winning multiple titles and beating some of the best players in the world. He was one of Gopichand’s first students, along with Saina Nehwal and Guru Sai Dutt. He was part of the golden generation of Indian men’s singles players who challenged the dominance of China and other Asian countries.

Kashyap’s career so far

Kashyap has a rich repertoire of skills and tactics, as well as a strong physical and mental game, which he displayed in his memorable victories over top players. He also reached a career-high ranking of world number six in 2013 and was the icon player for the Indian Badminton League team, Banga Beats, in the 2013 edition. 

Kashyap, who is married to fellow badminton star Saina Nehwal, said that his vision as a coach is to produce more champions for India, but added that it is ultimately up to the players to execute their plans. He said that he is looking forward to learning from Gopichand’s experience and sharing his knowledge with the next generation of shuttlers. He also said that he is enjoying his new role and hopes to make a positive impact on the Indian badminton scene.

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