Badminton's China Wall may seem well-nigh impossible to breach. But the Indian women's doubles players — Gutta Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa — have been chipping away at the formidable fortification.
“Over the years, we have been getting better against the Chinese,” avers Ashwini. That may not be just a tall claim, going by a cursory look at their recent matches.
In the Uber Cup, they lost to Qing Tian and Yunlei Zhao. Before succumbing 10-21 in the decider, Jwala and Ashwini had stretched their Chinese counterparts 19-21 in the opening set. The opponents they ran close are currently World no. 2!
Against the World no. 1 pair of Xiaoli Wang and Yang Yu, the Indians acquitted themselves honourably at the Victor Korea Open, Seoul last month. If the latter lost the first set tamely at 10-21, in the second they got pretty close to equalising with 17-21.
In the subsequent Maybank Malaysia Open, Jwala and Ashwini bowed out in the first round itself. Only that they were vanquished 13-21, 21-15, 17-21 by Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl, who eventually went on to claim the crown. India's top doubles duo even wrested a set from the Danish pair, currently rated World No. 7.
“Their game's very strong and capable of standing up to the world's top players too,” says their mentor, Padma Shri S.M. Arif. Quick to rationalise, he adds, “Their 2011 World championships bronze medal-win proves this.”
Low on luck
Of their early exits of late, the Dronacharya awardee feels they've been low on luck. “Meeting top-ten pairs in the initial rounds itself, even before they are familiar with the flight of the ‘bird' or wind draughts in the arena, are why they bow out early,” he explains.
“Much depends on the draws they get. If they advance into the competition and get into the groove, they can beat the best,” he adds assuredly.
Seeing falling snow flakes for the first time in Korea, Ashwini had been fascinated. The world No.19 pair has, however, to contend with not just cold climes but some hot competition too as they set out on a three-event sojourn.
A mere two-day gap separates each tournament in their itinerary, starting with the German Open at Mulheim an der Ruhr from Tuesday, followed by the All England championships at Birmingham, the last leg taking them to Basel for the Swiss Open.
Stick to basics
“We'll stick to basics, not try any extra, new stuff for the big matches. Nor will we think too much and pile on unnecessary pressure,” said seasoned campaigner Jwala, whose never-say-die attitude was evident on the eve of their departure.
