Jwala Gutta - Ashwini Ponnappa set high goals after delivering well at the 2011 World Championships
India’s Women’s Doubles ace pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa have set high targets to achieve at upcoming events after delivering a scintillating performance at the 2011 World Championships, in London, where they won a bronze medal.
The duo have become India’s first female pair to win the medal at the World Championships. Jwala is also optimistic to get a sponsorship for the pair after their incredible run in the mega event.
The left-handed Jwala played her career best badminton in the tournament as she, with her partner defeated many top-ranked and seeded shuttlers in their way to the Women’s Doubles semi-final. They lost to China’s Zhao Yunlei and Qing Tian, who were the number
five seeds in the Women’s Doubles draw of the tournament.
While talking about her expectations for winning at the World Championships, Jwala said, “Doubles is a specialist sport in which India has not done well traditionally. I hope our success will show the way to juniors as well as the association, media and
sponsors to encourage this event like they do to the singles format.”
Talking about the performance of the Indian pair, Jwala said, “We were expecting to do well and maybe upset a few seeded players, but what we did was unbelievable, and we were just ecstatic. Beating the second seeds was the turning point. After that, we
were determined and knew we were capable of going further. We just kept focus.”
In the mega event, the World Number 21, Jwala and Ashwini made their mark on the seeded pairs including the number two seeded Chinese Taipei’s pair of Yu Chin Chien and Wen Hsing Cheng. The Indians also defeated Hong Kong’s Ying Suet Tse and Lok Yan Poon,
who were seeded at number 11 in the Women’s Doubles draw of the event.
Now, the focus of the Indian pair will be on the forthcoming events which will also serve as the qualifying tournaments for the 2012 London Olympics. By remaining consistent in their good performance at upcoming tournaments, the Indian pair can find a seeded
place for the Olympic Games next year.
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