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Controversy erupted at the Junior National Badminton Championships earlier this week when the difference between the prize won by the champions in the singles and doubles categories was revealed, which saw the singles players being awarded cars while the doubles winners were given cheques of Rs 52000.
Many top doubles shuttlers from India, such as Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy, raised their voices against the development, after which another doubles ace Jwala Gutta, shared her thoughts on Thursday.
She wrote about her surprise at seeing doubles players talking about the unfair treatment meted out to them and stated how she did not receive support when she raised the same issues earlier.
A fan then asked the shuttler whether it was a good thing that Gutta's fellow doubles stars are taking forward the cause she had stood up for earlier:
However, Gutta replied by saying that she feels that the unity is absent between the players, which is why she is unhappy with the current state of affairs.
Earlier, Gutta's former doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa had spoken about the situation of the players after the controversy at the Junior Nationals.
When asked about taking up the issue, she stated that players are labelled as 'cribbers' when they do so and have their motives and performances questioned by the authorities.
She added that giving equal levels of encouragement and treatment to doubles players will enable them to improve their performances at all events.
Ponnappa also stated that this is not the first time that the scenario has happened and that it has been taking place over the years.
Ponnappa's doubles partner N. Sikki Reddy also took to Twitter earlier on the matter and slammed the authorities, asking why the junior players are forced to face the same situation as their senior counterparts.
