Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad (SHS)
With Errol Gonsalves
Hyderabad, Jul 17: Badminton gained momentum as a popular sport in India after the country hosted the Commonwealth Games in Delhi for the first time. Thousands of people witnessed the various matches along with TV viewers and experienced the liveliness of the sport which now has a prominent place in the hearts and minds of Indians. Added to that, the exploits of Indian badminton stars in major international tournaments has further boosted interest among the young.
Doubles partners Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are two badminton stars who have played a noteworthy role in not only changing the face of the game in India but also in making the world take notice of Indian players. Jwala Gutta, a left-handed player who hails from Wardha in Maharashtra has won the National Badminton Championships thirteen times till 2010. Ashwini Ponnappa from Bangalore, won the Indian junior championships in 2001 and gold medal at the South Asian Games held in 2006.
Together, the pair won a gold medal in the women's doubles at the Commonwealth Games 2010, thus creating history for India in the women's doubles, and followed it up by being the first Indian women's doubles pair to win a bronze medal in a badminton at 2011 London World Championship. They are now busy preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, UK.
Daijiworld caught up with Jwala and Ashwini in Hyderabad for an exclusive interview recently.
Karnataka’s very own Ponnappa says that she loves Mangalorean cuisine which she had tasted while in the city to play a state-level badminton championship. The duo expressed a desire to visit the coastal city for some relaxation.
"The aim of my career, in fact, both of ours, is to secure a victory in the Olympic Games 2016," said Jwala. According to her, India realized the beauty of the game after it hosted the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010. "The country closely observed the level at which the sport had been played and enjoyed our victory in singles and doubles," she added.
Ponappa reiterated that jam-packed crowds watched the game and television viewers developed a whole new perception of the game. She denied that glamour plays a pivotal role in making the game popular in the nation and across the globe.
When asked about the prospects of young players due to this paradigm shift, Jwala said that the young must cultivate patience. "The younger generation thrives on success in a short span which might be attainable but not sustainable." She advised that the approach to success needs to be reshaped among juniors.
Jwala attributes her rise in the sport to her parents who pushed her in the initial days and her coach S M Arif. Jwala, who claims to be lazy and says she loves to sleep, eat, and watch TV, is content about finding the right badminton partner in Ashwini and reaching her potential in playing top-level games.
Ashwini, on the other hand, says her career received a much-needed boost after being approached by Jwala to play doubles with her in the year 2009. "These moments of my life altered my career," says the badminton star who loves to spend her leisure time partying with friends. She adds, "My most cherished dream is to lift the Olympic cup in 2016.”
The duo, who practice for 5-6 hours every day, say that the matches they play prior to premier championships help them finesse their game. The IBL (Indian Badminton League) will also facilitate them to nurture their strength ahead of the Olympics.
Here's wishing them good luck, with a hope that they scale greater heights in badminton and bring many more laurels to the country.