Girls,uninterrupted

While they have silently climbed up the world ranking to number 16,the latest victory has put them in the public eye ahead of the Olympics,and made the quadrennial a realistic target for the doubles pairing (it will be an Indian first,in fact). This ensures the burden of hopes will not rest solely on the shoulders of one famous Hyderabadi. There are two more,who have shown that they are up to the task and the upcoming China Open starting September 13 kicks off their ten-month preparation-plan for 2012.

While their off-court bonding might have blossomed and resulted in Ashwini being gifted a flashy accessory,it is their intuitive relationship on the badminton court that has resulted in their rapid progress in the last couple of years. With their contrasting styles of play,dissimilar appearance and different personalities,they complement each other well,thus making for one,often unbreachable and robust unit on court. Jwala makes for a monstrous personality on the court. The 28-year-old’s routine 140 kilogram squats in her younger days,have made sure she maintains a heavy-set figure. Her constant attack and loud bellows on winning a point make for a very imposing character. While she may seem heavy-footed on court,her racket movements near the net — where she is most comfortable — become increasingly rapid as the rally goes on. According to her,the ability to read the game is where she aces them all.

“One of the first things that (Syed) Arif sir taught me was to keep my eye on the shuttle at all times and be in position to return as soon as it crosses the net. It is because of this that I can now read my opponents game well and anticipate where she will hit the shuttle. My job is to create openings so that my partner can smash,” she says.

And her partner,who turns 22 next week,obliges,with great intent and some deceptive power. Ashwini is said to have recorded one of the fastest smashes in the world,at 240 kmph,at the World Championships in 2010. She prides herself on her smashes — the strength of her game. On every opportunity of a shuttle tossed high,she assumes her attacking stance like a predator stalking its prey and with focused eyes she jumps and unleashes enough venom to kill the point. Contrary to her aggressive smashes,she has a calm and silent demeanour off-court. She is often seen receiving the advice Jwala gives her rather than the other way around. They form the bond of sisterhood built over a period of two years,with them facing many tribulations — both on-court and off — together.

Jwala — the Arjuna Award winner this year,who had had a solid 12-year-career with good friend and national champion — Shruti Kurien,felt she had hit a wall with her previous partner. “We had stagnated and no matter how much I tried I felt there was no potential for any improvement,” she says. After an uncomfortable conversation and a few tantrums,the bond was broken in 2009.

Starting afresh

It was in a match against the pairing of Ashwini and Nitya Sosale,which they won,that Jwala had first felt the intensity of her smash. When her fellow double’s player — Varun Khanwalkar — suggested that they would make a formidable pair. Jwala,outspoken that she is,marched up to the youngster and put forth a convincing proposition. Ashwini was flattered by the offer,but at the same time was engulfed with a feeling of guilt. She took a couple of weeks to think about it — a conversation with Vimal Kumar,former national coach,helped her choose career over friendship. “He just said that this is an opportunity — a big one. Don’t let it go to waste,” she said.

This followed a lot of uncomfortable moments and general awkwardness on court with the former partners. As time passed however,the victories started building up,thus reducing the awkwardness considerably and the pair were able to get into their groove. It was in August last year that Jwala suffered the biggest setback in her personal life when she separated from her husband and former India number 1 shuttler Chetan Anand. With news of separation trickling in just a couple of months before the Commonwealth Games,their preparations were hampered. “I was practically under house-arrest for ten days. The media had mobbed my house and I could not go for practice,” she said. And when she was able to reach the court,the uncomfortable glances and the awkwardness returned. But such was their focus and grit,that they beat all odds to capture the gold in Delhi. Jwala — who has never been the sort to shed tears — bawled her eyes out. “When my dad caught me crying in my childhood,he told me,‘Jab tak main zinda hoon,tu na royegi,na daregi!’ But that day,it was the look on my father’s face that drove me to tears. Ashwini was a great support during that time. She kept talking to me when I needed it,” says Jwala.

They will however,need more than just a strong bond if they are to compete at the Olympics which has been dominated by the South Koreans and the Chinese in all five of its editions. In fact,no one else has ever won a medal of any hue besides the women’s doubles pairing from those two countries.

Top-15 goal

The Indians will have to be in the world’s top 15 to qualify and a rise in rankings is their top priority. Their two month pre-Olympic training schedule which will start in May. But for now,the focus is on their defence. “We are great attackers. Probably,one of the best in the world. But it is in our defense that we get caught napping. This is one thing that we have been working on after the World Championships and will continue to work on for the Olympics. The main focus will be to do well in the lead-up tournaments,” said Jwala.

Fitness is another aspect of Jwala’s game that has been found wanting in the past. Jwala does not deem herself unfit,but agrees that there is room for improvement. “I hate running and I am no fitness freak. But if I was not fit I would not have won a bronze medal at the World Championships. I am,however,doing extra drills during practice,” she said. As for Ashwini,it is her lack of maturity that can be her undoing in big matches. While Jwala inspires confidence with her encouraging words,there are off-days when her partner is not as talkative and Ashwini increases the unforced errors count. “I am not as experienced as Jwala but the big matches that I have played,have helped calm my nerves,” said Ashwini.

The journey to Olympics still remains a long and arduous one. And the Indians will hope for a encore of the World Championships. Maybe Jwala can then shop for more precious gifts at Oxford Street for her buddy. For when their working day is done,these girls just want to have fun.

Fitness,defence key concerns: Doubles coach Edwin

Following in former coaches,Atiq Jauhari and Hadi Idris’ footsteps,is another Indonesian — Edwin Iriawan — who was appointed the doubles coach of the national team earlier this year. With the women’s doubles pair winning a bronze medal in the World Championships last month,Iriawan’s career was off to an explosive start with the Indians. His aim,however,is to get his wards to win an Olympic medal and he feels that the task is not an impossible one.

“No one expected them to win the bronze medal and they went out there and did it. The confidence is there and an Olympic medal is definitely in sight,” he says.

There are however,certain areas where an improvement is a must,and plans are in process to bring about the necessary changes. “The fitness and the mental toughness is a matter of concern. They must also improve their defence in the ten months that are left because the top players will be strong physically and mentally heading into the Olympics year,” he said,adding that a fine-tuning in the technique will also be necessary. He has also chalked out a two-month plan,which he will follow in the time preceding the Olympics.

The performance at the World Championships,according to him,has given the pair a lot of belief ahead of the Olympics. “The pair had a very good victory in the second round against the Chinese Taipei pair. They followed it up with some very good victories. This has given the push that was needed for them to give it a proper shot for the Olympics,” he said.

The top priority,however,will be to increase their ranking so that they fit into the qualification bracket. For this,the tournaments leading up to the Olympics will be of importance. “They will be playing the China Open which starts on September 13. They will follow this up with the Japan Open and good performances in the top level tournaments will be essential to increase their ranking,” he said.