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One-half of India’s best doubles pair, Jwala Gutta has expressed happiness at the sports ministry’s decision to include her and Ashwini Ponnappa’s names in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
After much mud-slashing, the sports ministry finally decided to include the duo in the scheme and the 31-year-old added the manner in which they had to get themselves to be a part of the scheme was regrettable.
“I am happy that we are set to be included now. It will motivate us further and help us better plan our preparation for Olympics.
"It''s unfortunate that we had to fight it out. No body wants it that way, I always believed that we deserved that place. There are 70 athletes being supported by the ministry and not to find a place in there was shocking, something we could not digest," Gutta told PTI.
Reiterating thet they were India’s best bet in doubles, Gutta said it wasnt as if they were reliant on the scheme, but the fact that she and Ponnappa believed they deserved to included in the list of athletes and their non-inclusion didnt go down too well with them.
“We are by far the best doubles player in the country and they just threw our bio-data out of the window. It hurt us. Not that we were depending on this scheme but we believed it was our right. If we would have depended on it then we would not have come up with performances at US and Canada open.
"We have our personal trainers and physio. Since both me and Ashwini have different bodies so we need specific personal attention and we have been managing on our own all this while,” she said.
“Now this financial support will help us. I am leaving for Bangalore camp next week,” she added.
Disappointiing to not have a specialised doubles coach: Gutta
The Hyderabadi also spoke about the need for a proper double coach, who would be willing to play a lot more proactive role in the improvement of doubles in the country.
"The Malaysian coach, I fear is still uncertain. I heard the hunt for a doubles coach is still on as the Malaysian coach has declined to come. So I don''t know. It is sad that they started the hunt only now while time is running out.
"It is sad we still don''t have a special doubles coach. There is an Indonesian coach in Bangalore which Prakash (Padukone) sir had appointed. He has an idea about doubles but he is not a specialised doubles coach. He won''t travel with us for tournaments,” the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver-medalist said.
