Doubles the trouble

Gutta says that the absolute lack of appreciation in the sport’s variant hit home when she returned from London in 2011 after clinching a bronze medal in the World Championships. “It was quite an achievement,winning a medal at such a prestigious competition. I thought that I would be received warmly at the airport but when I walked out,the entire place was deserted except for my family and a few friends,” she says.

She says that the upcoming IBL might just be the shot in the arm that doubles needs.

“Its going to be a very glamorous format. Also,doubles has high spectator value. Doubles has more visual excitement and I think with top Indian and foreign players featuring in the tournament,I am hopeful of good things happening for doubles players,” she says.

More importantly,the format of the IBL has three doubles ties in each encounter. With the onus on the doubles players,Gutta is hopeful that this is exactly the shot in the arm that the variant needs.

“Doubles players are going to be very important. The format is similar to that of the Sudirman Cup (A team championship) and that will ensure that progress of teams in the tournament will depend on how well their doubles players do,” she says.

The southpaw,known for unleashing regular broadsides on the Badminton Association of India and its working said that the new administration under Akhilesh Das Gupta needs to bring in “drastic changes” to help further badminton’s prospects in the country. The Hyderabad native also says that the Association needs to accept and support doubles player equally.

“I agree that singles players are doing well,however it is also true that singles players are pushed more. The Association is happy to take the credit when I win,or we do well in doubles. A lot of funding from the government came on the back of our (former partner Ashwini Ponappa) performances. The Association is happy to use the funding but they don’t want to accept us,” she says.

Asked whether she has ever regretted speaking her mind,Gutta says all she has done is point out things that haven’t worked properly and brought in change.

“I have always backed up my statements about bringing in change with facts. Also,I have performed well and I am speaking on the basis of my performances. I have realized that a lot of changes have come in already because of what I have said,that’s something that has pushed me to speak out,” he says.

But does the 29-year-old not feel a sense of isolation considering that none of her brethren seem to come out in her support. “Other players are facing problems worse than mine. A lot of junior players face discrimination but this adjust kar lo attitude is the problem. Players have their own thinking about not speaking out. But that will not stop me from speaking what I think is right,” she says.

Gutta,who is now partnering Prajakta Sawant,says that her role with the 20-year-old is guidance-heavy. “She is young and she hasn’t really played a lot of tournaments. We haven’t really played a lot together but I think my job in the partnership is to just keep talking to her,passing on tips and motivate her to perform to the best of her abilities,” she says.

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