New Delhi: India’s badminton doubles exponent Jwala Gutta has decided to go on sabbatical, telling her partner Ashwini Ponnappa to look for a partner.
There is uncertainty over how long Jwala will be out from competitive badminton, although she said she may be back in six months’ time.
What has heightened the curiosity is that Jwala has asked Ashwini to quickly find a new partner and carry on playing the doubles until her return.
What may end speculation is that Jwala, at 29, feels she is good for one more Olympics, but she doesn’t want Ashwini hamstrung waiting for her.
“I will be back but don’t know when. I have taken time off as I want to come back fresh and fitter. I needed a break after playing continuously for 6-7 years. I have had a chat with Ashwini about it and she understands my position,” Jwala said.
Ashwini, for the time being, will concentrate on mixed doubles with Tarun Kona and look out for a women’s doubles partner.
Jwala and Ashwini, the bronze medallists at the last World Championships, are India’s most successful doubles team on the circuit, and both hope to be back together.
Jwala thinks it is crucial for Ashwini to carry on in her absence even though it is going to be a tough task considering India’s limited bench strength.
“She has just started playing and I would tell her to find another partner to continue playing in my absence. It will be tough for her as the second string is way below our level. It is time she started mentoring a junior player who is interested in playing doubles,” she said.
The options available to Ashwini are reigning national champions Pradnya Gadre and Prajakta Sawant.
So what is going on in Jwala’s mind?
“I am not really a planner. I would want to play with Ashwini at Rio, but four years is a long time. I am not growing any younger. Probably, I would have wanted to quit after getting an Olympic medal in London but to try for it all over again, I need to come back highly motivated.” (IANS)