The performance of Jwala Gutt and Ashwini Ponnappa’s would be as important as the likes of from Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu if the hosts want to make it to the knockout stage of the 2014 BWF li-Ning Thomas and Uber Cup. beginning in the Capital from the 18th of May onwards.
The 2011 World championship bronze medallist and the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist team is confident of a good show at the tournament that will take place at the Siri Fort Sports Complex.
“As a team we are playing well. Recently we won the Asian Badminton Championship. There are lot of expectation from doubles as well we will give our best to clinch victory for India,” said Jwala, who made her India team debut in the Uber Cup qualifiers back in 2000 at the age of 16.
Jwala and Ashwini helped India win the team silver in the 2010 Commonwealth Games at this very venue and the experienced shuttler insists that it is the charm of the team events that makes them punch about their weight.
“The whole idea of playing for a team is so different from playing individually, I am a team player and I like the feeling around that we are one team. We all have one aim, represent India and win it for the country,” Jwala added. Ashwini also believes that while playing in a team one has to think like a team and not as an individual.
“In the individual events we play for ourselves. Even if we play for the country, there is no one relying on us. But when we play for a team, it is different. When we play team championships, we ensure that whatever we do the end result needs to be that team is doing well. We have to think as a team and not just about our own performances alone, so it is different.” Ashwini insisted that the combination was getting better with every tournament and were confident of playing their part in the campaign.