HYDERABAD: Estranged badminton couple Chetan Anand and Jwala Gutta have finally been granted a divorce. The couple had applied for a divorce six months ago.
“The six-month period for notification of the divorce was over today (Wednesday),’’ Arjuna awardee Anand confirmed.
The couple married in 2005 but the marriage began to flounder a few years later when rumours arose of Jwala’s alleged link-up with former India cricketer and MP Mohammed Azharuddin. But Jwala has consistently maintained that rumours were all false. Fellow badminton players tried to persuade the couple to work on their relationship but that did not happen.
Both Anand and Jwala said they would now like to move on by concentrating on their game. “At present I want to concentrate only on my game. I will be taking part in two tournaments in July,’’ said Anand.
Jwala too said badminton was her priority now. “I want to enjoy my life. I’ll think of another marriage only after I retire from the game,’’ said Jwala, who won the gold in the Commonwealth Games doubles event with Ashwini Ponnappa. The pair have moved up the doubles rankings since then.
Both Anand and Jwala train at the Lal Bahadur Indoor Stadium under coach Syed Mohammad Arif. Both avoid running into each other.
“They come and play. But they don’t talk,’’ said a fellow player.