Will let my racquet do the talking: Jwala Gutta
Miffed with the organisers’ last-minute decision to slash her base price at the IBL auction despite being listed in Icon players category, ace doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta today said she will let her racquet do the talking in the Indian Badminton League.
‘The minimum thing we expected was to be informed. Nevertheless, I am very happy to be part of IBL. I am very much looking forward to it. Badminton court is my territory and that’s where I will do most of my talking. I will let my racquet speak for myself,’ Jwala told reporters here. Controversy erupted after Gutta and another doubles specialist Ashwini Ponappa lashed out at the IBL for what they termed was ‘unfair’ on them.
‘If I speak up people either say she is complaining or she is a rebel. I have already been labelled rebel. But whatever happened wasn’t expected,’ she said. Commonwealth Games women’s doubles champions Jwala and Ponnappa were two of the six icon players, who went under the hammer on Monday but just hours ahead of the player’s auction, the IBL decided to reduce price from USD 50,000 (Rs 29,86,264) to USD 25,000 (14,93,125) after consultation with the six franchises.
In the auction, Jwala went to Krrish Delhi Smashers at USD 31,000 (Rs 18,51,520), while Pune Pistons bagged Ashwini for the base price of USD 25,000. Jwala said it was her performances at the international level that popularised the doubles format in the country. ‘I have done a lot for the country. I have won medals and given lots of performances. In doubles there was nobody before me. I have changed how people look at doubles. People are expecting a lot from doubles after my performances.
Gopichand defends slashing base price of Jwala, Ashwini
KOLKATA: The base price of two of the six Icon Players, who went unsold in the the Indian Badminton League (IBL), was reduced to ensure they did not suffer a financial loss, national coach Pullela Gopichand asserted on Wednesday. Terming the controversy as ‘unprecedented’ in world badminton, Gopichand hoped the matter would be sorted out soon.
‘With due respect to what they (Gutta and Ponappa) are saying, I think the IBL is ensuring that the players are not at a financial loss. I hope this issue is resolved and we must move on because what is happening is unprecedented in world badminton,’ said Gopichand.
Delighted over the money involved in the league, Gopichand said it will greatly benefit the sport. ‘There are players who are extremely happy and money was never thought of earlier in Indian or world badminton. So, something like this which has huge benefits for sport, for badminton, for existing players.’
