Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa to renew partnership

India’s Jwala Gutta (L) and Ashwini Ponnappa

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) India’s most successful doubles badminton pair Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are set to renew their partnership in October.

The Commonwealth Games women’s doubles gold medallists broke their successful partnership after the Olympics as Jwala wanted to take a sabbatical for an indefinite period. However, the duo confirmed Tuesday that they will play together again.

“Yes, we have decided to partner again. We have done well together and we just thought of renewing the partnership once more,” Ashwini told IANS.

Jwala reiterated the same point here at the unveiling of the Indian Badminton League (IBL) trophy.

“Yes, we decided to get back together. We have done well in the past. We won medals at the Commonwealth Games and then at the World Championships. It is hard to say when we will get back together because we need to discuss a lot of things as of now,” Jwala told IANS.

Asked what were the reasons for getting back together, Jwala said: “Well, there are many reasons. When the time is right, we will let you know. It is not just about the results but about a lot more. But the important thing is we are getting back together.”

Both the shuttlers, however, refused to divulge details of their future plans.

Ashwini and Jwala are India’s only doubles shuttlers to win a medal at the World Championships, where they clinched the bronze in London two years ago.