Jwala Gutta breathes fire on exclusion from Target Olympic Podium scheme

Hyderabad: She may have come home the champion of Canada but Jwala Gutta is far from happy. The fiery shuttler is still simmering over her and doubles partner Ashwini’s exclusion from the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme. And that disappointment spurred them on to win the Canada Open Grand Prix doubles crown. “We were very disheartened that we weren’t part of the government’s TOP (Target Olympic Podium) scheme, and that put pressure on us; made us feel like we have to prove ourselves again. That’s what we did in Canada.”

But Jwala added she doesn’t expect a change in fortunes anytime soon. “We had proved ourselves several times in the past, but it’s now come to a point where we need to keep showing everyone we can do it every time we play.”And the outspoken shuttler is firm on one point — she will not be making any appeals to be included in the TOP list. “Do I really need to ask them, again? I’m a player. I need to focus on my game and on my training. I shouldn’t be expected to worry about things like these.

“If I have to go speak to someone, I would have to travel to Delhi and spend a few days there and that will have to be at the cost of my training. I shouldn’t have to do that. What I have accomplished should speak for itself.“All I’m asking for is a doubles coach who can travel with us, guide us, and a physio and trainer. That’s all we require from the government but instead, the money is being pumped into private academies. It’s not even as if all the singles shuttlers receiving financial assistance will qualify for the Olympics. Only two of them can make it.”

According to the former World Championships bronze medallist, being the premier women’s doubles team in the country should have been incentive enough for the government to consider them for TOP. “After Ashwini and I, doubles is dead. There is nobody else. If we receive support, juniors will have the motivation to play doubles. Which is how we see a lot of upcoming singles players. It’s because of great singles infrastructure,” she said.

But then, Jwala says, doubles has always received step-motherly treatment in India. “I don’t know what more we can do to help them understand the importance of doubles. We (Ashwini and I) were the first Indians since Prakash Padukone to win a medal at the World Championships when we claimed the bronze in 2011. I don’t know what else we can do but continue to win.
“I’m human, after all. I do get angry and disappointed. But it’s been going on for so long that right now, that I’ve gotten used to it.”

This being an Olympic year, every tournament assumes special significance and that was one of the reasons Jwala and Ashwini played at the US and Canada Open tournaments.“It’s a big win,” Jwala said, referring to the Canada open triumph. “It’s an Olympic year. It’s a do-or-die situation for every player in every tournament. And for doubles, the qualification is so tough. There are only 16 pairs which will qualify for the Olympics, so we need to be in top form the whole year.”

And Jwala, the only Indian to compete in two different events at the Olympics when she played the women’s and mixed doubles in London in 2012, is confident of making the cut for Rio.
“Qualifying is very possible. The World Championships are coming up (from August 10 to 16 in Indonesia). I’ll be going to Bengaluru to train with Ashwini sometime in July,” Jwala added.