The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : ‘A proof of our ability, commitment’

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‘A proof of our ability, commitment’

Principal Correspondent

— File Photo

Making a point: Both Jwala Gutta (right) and Shruti Kurien climbed back to World No. 22 in the rankings proving their commitment.

HYDERABAD: Jwala Gutta and Sruthi Kurien, who became the first ever women’s doubles badminton pair from India to win a Grand Prix title when they won the KLRC Bulgarian Grand Prix championship recently, point out that they are still chasing the dream of an Olympic appearance.

Incidentally, Jwala put up another impressive performance winning also the mixed doubles title with V. Diju.

Jwala and Sruthi, both aged 25, now feel that their good performance is vindication for their insistence on competing in the international events than staying back for the then on-going national camp which subsequently only denied them valuable ranking points and a chance to take part in the Beijing Olympics.

“That was a very difficult phase both mentally and physically. But, we decided to just shut it out and focus on the task on hand,” recalls the ebullient Jwala, even as she points out that when the avoidable controversy came to the fore last year they were ranked World No. 23. “The fact that we have climbed back in world ranking to World No. 22 is proof of our ability and commitment,” Jwala says.

Both agree that the presence of S.M. Arif as the travelling coach was a big morale-booster on the European circuit.

“We grew up in front of him learning the basics. And, if a coach of that reputation travels with us, it is bound to have a major influence. We are thankful for him,” Jwala said.

Message to critics

Jwala also says that their recent performances are also a message to those critics who suggested the duo was getting on in years to compete meaningfully on the international circuit.

“We proved many wrong with the amount of hard work, the planning and the grit to produce these results,” she said. What is their next target? “We continue our pursuit to represent India in the next Olympics at least. We have decided to take every international event as a qualifying event. Such is our passion now. And we are confident of achieving our target,” says Jwala.

On his part, Arif sys he had to accede to the players’ request to be the travelling coach after feeling terribly disturbed at the way they were treated.

“I always believed they had the potential to be among the top doubles pairs. So I felt it was a moral obligation to be with them in their hour of crisis and help them in whatever manner possible,” he says.

Back to training at Fateh Maidan Indoor Stadium, Jwala and Sruthi are now targeting the Pakistan and the Indian Satellite championships scheduled to be held next month and some big events in Europe.

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