5 controversies that rocked Indian sport in 2017

#2 The doubles vs singles row in badminton

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa voiced their concern

The controversy over the differentiation between singles and doubles badminton players arose once again at the Junior National Badminton Championships held in Guwahati in December.

The Assam Badminton Association decided to award cars to winners of the singles category while only a cash prize to winners of doubles, that too a mere 26,000 per player. Doubles badminton stars Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa had a lot to say over the issue, they expressed their views on Twitter.

I am quite surprised at the doubles players being surprised about the current state of doubles!!! Now how suddenly all the doubles players feel the unfair treatment being given to them...what about when I spoke? Where were these players?

— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) December 21, 2017

Ashwini Ponappa, a former Commonwealth Games gold medalist in doubles exclaimed, “Equal treatment and encouragement would definitely help in getting better performances in all events as opposed to just 1 or 2 events.”

Equal treatment and encouragement would definitely help in getting better performances in all events as opposed to just 1 or 2 events.

— Ashwini Ponnappa (@P9Ashwini) December 20, 2017