Jwala Gutta requires little by way of introduction. Assertive, bold and brave, she is ready for the challenge of playing with different partners and is already in a preparatory mood even though the next Olympic Games are three years away. In a freewheeling chat with The Indian Express, India's doubles specialist shuttler throws light on her recent struggle to find a suitable doubles and mixed doubles partner and the "indifferent" attitude of the Badminton Association of India.
Excerpts:
Partner hunt
I played for a long time with Ashwini (Ponnappa) and both of us enjoyed a lot of success together. When I returned after the break, both of us couldn't continue playing together. Not that it was planned or happened overnight. But, yes it just happened. It was not something which I had planned or was looking to do after the Olympics. I have now decided to play with Prajakta (Sawant), and hope to maintain a long term partnership with her. I will do all I could to help her get used to pressure of competing at the highest level. I don't want to put pressure on my partners.
As far as mixed doubles is concerned, I will now be playing with Manu Atri (She decided to change her partner after playing with V Diju for a long time. They last played the India Open Super Series together). He is very very talented. And I am really excited to play with him. He is brilliant on the court. We will start in September when we go to China and Japan. I know it will take time to get used to playing together, but I am in no hurry at all.
The road ahead
I love playing badminton and would continue doing that. I am very fit now. I am focussing a lot on my fitness, which is very important. My aim is to do well in the Olympics. I am working very hard on my fitness at the moment, and then I have three years to work on my game.
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