Commonwealth Games gold medalist Jwala Gutta has been very vocal about what she perceives as the neglect of doubles badminton in India. On Friday, her former partner Ashwini Ponnappa also expressed similar views.
"Our singles players have done well because there has been a lot of support and encouragement. The same kind of encouragement needs to be given for doubles also, especially at the grassroots level," said Ponappa on the sidelines of the awards distribution ceremony of PNB Metlife Junior Badminton Championship at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Friday.
She believes that though the situation is slightly better, more needs to be done for doubles' players. "I think a lot more can be done. I believe a lot more support and encouragement can be there for doubles player. If doubles is not being given importance, youngsters are not going to pick up double because it would seem that singles players get all the limelight while doubles players are ignored. This difference needs to be erased," added the Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
She also sees the recent appointment of a coach specifically for doubles players as an important move.
"Having a doubles coach is really important. In the past we never really had an expertise in doubles. We always had coaches who have come and gone and while we had them, it's been beneficial to us because as a country we never really were doubles-centric. So having coaches with a long term vision definitely helps because they can come and give their inputs which benefits everyone from juniors to the seniors," the shuttler added.
Ponnappa revealed that she raised this issue at the Badminton Conclave organised some weeks ago at the time of Himanta Biswa Sarma taking over as the President of BAI and she was happy that he took interest in the issue. "A lot of us did voice our opinion and he was very kind to listen to all our queries and listen to what we wanted and he definitely said that he would work towards making sure that the best came out of the conclave," she said.
Ponnappa has been playing women's doubles recently with N Sikki Reddy. On being asked to compare this new partnership with the one she had with Jwala Gutta, the 27-year old felt the two cannot be compared.
"I wouldn't compare the two at all because Jwala and I had a different kind of partnership. In fact, every partnership is different. Jwala and I had a great couple of years in which we had great match and some really good wins. Sikki and I are just starting out and we have had a couple of good tournaments as well. So I am just looking forward to better results and better match performances," asserted the former World Championship bronze medalist.
Ponnappa is going to be in action in both women's doubles and mixed doubles. On her expectations in the former discipline, she is cautiously optimistic. "I wish to do the best I can and hopefully win a medal."
While Ponnappa has been playing mixed doubles with both Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and B Sumeeth, she confirmed that at the World Championships, it would be the latter whom she will partner with. "Sumeeth and I have qualified for the World Championships because we have been playing for the last couple of months so Sumeeth would be my partner in this event."