Saina’s criticism was unfair, says Jwala, Pawar
Top doubles badminton player Jwala Gutta on Wednesday hit out at singles star Saina Nehwal for her comments that Taufik Hidayat should accept the reality that he is a retired player and cannot get highest base price in IBl.
Hidayat, who is Saina’s IBl teammate in Hyderabad Hotshots franchise, had complained of unfair treatment to foreign players by the league organisers.Hidayat was bought for USD 15,000 at his base price and the Indonesian felt he deserved much more.
Saina, however, said Hidayat should realise that he was a retired player, a comment which did not amuse Jwala.“Taufik Hidayat is one of the greatest players....And I don’t think u can dismiss his views just because he has “retired” from the game!!!!,” wrote Jwala, who plays for Delhi franchise in IBl, on her twitter page. “I don’t know how anyone can talk about him in such manner......Without giving him and his stature any respect...It’s absolutely sad!!!!,” she said.
Jwala did not name Saina in her series of tweets on the issue but in an apparent reference to the Hyderabadi, she said that she should understand Hidayat’s concern. “No matter how big u have become in sport I think one should try and ustand what ur fellow players views r And work on it!!!,” she tweeted.
“Nobody can take away his achievements....Just because he’s RETIRED!!!! He is and will always be one of the greatest badminton player!!!! “And again it’s not about money....It’s about RESPECT!!!!!”
Also, former international Uday Pawar was surprised by shuttle queen Saina Nehwal’s criticism of Taufik Hidayat’s views over the Indian Badminton league auction process and said the retired Indonesian great’s perspective needed to be respected, even if she had reservations.
“Taufik Hidayat is a great player and has been a world and Olympic champion to boot. His views need to be respected, even if you don’t agree to them,” Pawar said here on Wednesday.
The retired Indonesian shuttler, who was bought by Saina’s franchise team Hyderabad Hotshots for a paltry USD 15,000, was hurt that some of the top foreign players are being paid much less than lower-ranked Indian counterparts.
Pawar also did not agree to Saina’s suggestion that the IBl was largely there to benefit Indian players, saying that Indian corporates would not have agreed to spend crores of rupees in supporting the league but for the presence of the world’s top foreign shuttlers. “Its a very good initiative by BAI, but corporates will not support an event if the top ranked foreign players are not part of the league,” said the former doubles expert.
Jwala hopes to play today
Krissh Delhi Smashers’ icon player Jwala Gutta, who missed her team’s tie against Mumbai Masters, is yet to recover from a shoulder injury but the ace doubles shuttler is hopeful of playing against Awadhe Warriors on Thursday.
“My shoulder is much better than what it was in lucknow. It is still not 100 per cent healed. My physio suggested that I rest (against Mumbai) also. There is a little pain, there is little soreness but it’s better,” Jwala told reporters.
“But I am hopeful of playing the next match. I wanted to play today (against Mumbai). The stadium was fantastic. The atmosphere here is amazing. A lot of my friends were here. I wanted to play really but sometimes you can’t help it,” she said.
Jwala said playing mixed doubles with foreign teammates was not difficult what if their styles are different.
“Koo (Kien Keat) understands the game of doubles. It is very important to really understand the game of doubles because technically when you think about doubles, it is a bit different from singles. As long as he understands the game of doubles and I understand it, there is not much (difference).