My love for badminton hasn’t changed, but right now, my priority is our baby: N Sikki Reddy

From childhood friends to partners in life and parenthood, badminton stars N Sikki Reddy and Sumeeth Reddy have grown together on and off the court. The husband-wife duo, former world No. 25 in mixed doubles, bring solid international pedigree and has long been among India’s dependable doubles specialists. This Valentine’s Day, Sikki spoke to us about love, partnership, and how their contrasting personalities make their bond stronger. With baby Agasthya in their lives, the couple marked their first Valentine’s Day as parents. Excerpts:

Do you and Sumeeth celebrate Valentine’s Day? How special is it for you as a couple?
We do celebrate Valentine’s Day, and it has always been special for us. One that stands out in my memory is after we got engaged on February 1, 2017. We were in Vietnam for a competition for the Badminton Asian Championship, and during the tournament, Sumeeth surprised me with a chain; it felt so special. Over the years, February has usually meant competitions for us, so we don’t always get time to celebrate properly. But we make it special with little surprises for each other. Those cute moments are what keep the love alive.

You’ve known each other since childhood — how did you first meet, and how have your personalities complemented each other over the years?
We first met around 2002 at a badminton summer camp at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium. Sumeeth was a bit senior to me and wasn’t exactly part of the camp, but he used to guide us and make us play. I got to know him better later during regular practise sessions. He was always calm and quiet, while I was a complete tomboy. We were total opposites even back then, and that’s still true today. He’s is calm, caring, and thoughtful and enjoys simple, quiet moments — while I’m the total opposite. I love going out, staying up late, planning little surprises, and doing fun things. Even our families are different: mine enjoys late-night get-togethers, singing karaoke, and playing games, while his family sleeps early and wakes up at 4 am! We’re opposites in many ways, but I truly feel that’s why we work so well together.

Do you think being in the same profession brings more understanding in a marriage?
We both understand exactly how a sportsperson’s life works — the training schedules, coaching, travel, and time away from home — so there’s a lot of mutual understanding between us. If he has to travel for tournaments or even take up coaching in the future, I already know what that demands. At the same time, if the family needs him, he’s always ready to prioritise us too. That balance comes naturally because we both truly get each other’s responsibilities. When two people understand the pros and cons of the same career, life becomes much easier.

Has parenthood changed the way you see each other?
Becoming parents has been a huge change for us, but it’s made our bond even stronger. Being a player and a mother are completely different worlds — sometimes I miss being on court, but the moment I see our baby smile, everything else fades away. Sumeeth has also changed so beautifully — everything he does now is for our baby, thinking about his future and making life easier for him. Witnessing that side of him has been so special.

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