It is now becoming increasingly clear that 2011 World Championship bronze medallist Jwala Gutta is heading for a no-holds-barred battle with the top brass of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) whose disciplinary panel had recommended a life ban on the shuttler for allegedly trying to prevent her Delhi Krrish Smashers players from playing in an IBL league match against Banga Beats.
And, supporting her this time in her fight against BAI is her father G. Kranthi and erstwhile coach S.M. Arif.
“She is outspoken at times,” points out Mr. Arif. There are others like Clean Sports India (CSI) convenor B.V.P. Rao backing her. The presence of Jwala’s partner in the World Championship bronze medal winning effort, Ashwini Ponappa, at the CSI meeting here, too, came as a shot in the arm for her.
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Both Ashwini and Jwala had complained of a raw deal in terms of payments. Even the A.P. Badminton Association (APBA) feels that Jwala’s issue has not been handled in the right manner.
“We are making our efforts to see that it doesn’t go out of our hands,” confesses a key APBA official. The lady in the spotlight is, however, presenting an unfazed demeanour and keeping away from the media.
She is training at the Fateh Maidan Indoor Stadium to get ready for the next major tournaments lined up in the next few days including the Denmark Open.
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