Badminton champion Jwala Gutta hates “animals [being] engaged in any sort of fight”. In fact, she also “hates any human being getting involved in fights”.
Hence, it comes as no surprise that she intensely dislikes ‘cock fights’, a rural blood sport that has gained fame and notoriety in recent times, and mostly takes place during Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh.
She expressed her displeasure at using cocks for the pleasure of human beings. “I saw so many birds getting injured and killed during these fights. It is so disturbing,” said Jwala at a campaign being taken up by Prevention of Cruelty to Animals against Cockfighting here on Saturday.
“I appeal to everyone to stop cockfighting. Worse, there is so much of gambling involved in it. If you want to spend your leisure time, come to sports and enjoy any game you like. I would like to coin the slogan – sports for cockfighting – henceforth,” she explained.
Bats for India’s Daughter
The ace doubles shuttler said she deemed it a “privilege to engage in this campaign for I am trying to give back something to the society”.
“This is a wonderful cause and I will be actively involved in it," said Jwala, attired in a specially-designed outfit and with ‘blood spots’ on her ‘body’. She used the platform to come up in support of the controversial BBC documentary India’s Daughter .
“We live in a hypocritical society. I don’t understand the wrong if every parent is and kid watches the documentary. People should know what has happened, be aware and better-equipped to handle any such situation,” Jwala remarked on the sidelines.
“Of course, I am for the documentary to be telecast. There are no second thoughts on that,” she insisted. The shuttler also hoped that like millions of Indian fans, she too hoped Dhoni’s team would bring back the World Cup.
“I wish the entire Indian cricket team the best of luck,” she signed off.
I appeal to everyone to stop cockfighting. Worse, there is so much of gambling involved in it. If you want to spend your leisure time, come to sports and enjoy any game you like
Jwala Gutta
Badminton player
