Doubles a missing link in Indian badminton
22 March 2014 5:21 AM IST
Add to it the eight men in top 50 and the country’s performance graph zooms to impressive heights ahead of the India Open Super Series which will be held at Siri Fort Sports Complex from 1-6 April.
If some doubles pairs could join the ranks of the singles players, India would be among the world’s best in a sport of high skills and stamina. In the last decade or so, India’s singles players have been creating waves. They have won major Super Series and Grand Prix titles, matching the best in the business, including the Chinese. Saina, Sindhu, Parupalli Kashyap, Kidambi Srikanth are the names that are taken seriously by top shuttlers of the world.
In doubles, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa hogged limelight when they clinched the 2010 CWG gold in New Delhi and following it up by taking the 2011 doubles bronze at the World Championships, the first for the country since the legendary Prakash Padukone won 28-years-ago in 1983.
When they were riding high, Jwala-Ashwini had the highest doubles ranking of 13. After the London Games, Jwala decided to go on a sabbatical and by the time she returned to the circuit to again pair up with Ashwini, the world had changed. Their loss of form and ranking made India’s position difficult in team events. At theresent, there aren’t any Indian pair in the top 35 in men’s doubles while Jwala and Ashwini are the highest ranked Indian women at a distant 60. In mixed doubles, Ashwini and Tarun Kona are ranked 35th.
The absence of good doubles pairs will hurt India in the prestigious Thomas and Uber Cups, to be played in India for the first time between 18 and 25 May. Though India has a forgettable record in the two events, they should try and put up a good show since the tournament is being played in the national capital.
If some doubles pairs could join the ranks of the singles players, India would be among the world’s best in a sport of high skills and stamina. In the last decade or so, India’s singles players have been creating waves. They have won major Super Series and Grand Prix titles, matching the best in the business, including the Chinese. Saina, Sindhu, Parupalli Kashyap, Kidambi Srikanth are the names that are taken seriously by top shuttlers of the world.
In doubles, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa hogged limelight when they clinched the 2010 CWG gold in New Delhi and following it up by taking the 2011 doubles bronze at the World Championships, the first for the country since the legendary Prakash Padukone won 28-years-ago in 1983.
When they were riding high, Jwala-Ashwini had the highest doubles ranking of 13. After the London Games, Jwala decided to go on a sabbatical and by the time she returned to the circuit to again pair up with Ashwini, the world had changed. Their loss of form and ranking made India’s position difficult in team events. At theresent, there aren’t any Indian pair in the top 35 in men’s doubles while Jwala and Ashwini are the highest ranked Indian women at a distant 60. In mixed doubles, Ashwini and Tarun Kona are ranked 35th.
The absence of good doubles pairs will hurt India in the prestigious Thomas and Uber Cups, to be played in India for the first time between 18 and 25 May. Though India has a forgettable record in the two events, they should try and put up a good show since the tournament is being played in the national capital.
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