Consistency will be key for Pradnya

New Delhi: Even as Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa struggle to recreate the magic of their re-born partnership, youngster Pradnya Gadre is slowly but surely making progress on the country’s women’s doubles circuit.

Pradnya, who hogged the limelight during the Indian Badminton League auction after pocketing a whopping $46,000 bid from Hyderabad Hotshots, lifted the women’s doubles and mixed doubles crowns at the just-concluded Tata Open in Mumbai.

Though this was her first international mixed doubles title with Akshay Dewalkar, Pradnya and N.

Sikki Reddy also won the women’s doubles title at the Bahrain International Challenge last month.

Along with Akshay and Sikki, Pradnya also clinched twin titles at the all India senior ranking event in Pune and a Challenge event in Hyderabad, this summer.

For Pradnya, the women’s doubles win in Mumbai was special. “In the final, we were playing against Jwala and Ashwini who are so experienced. I think it was a no-pressure match for us, and that was the key,” the 23-year-old said.

The 40th ranked shuttler felt her brief partnership with Ashwini earlier in the year, besides the IBL, had worked wonders for her. “I learnt a lot from her.

Whenever I had problems on and off court, I used to discuss with her. She had been really helpful.

“The IBL was a great experience. Playing alongside players like Taufik (Hidayat), it was a blessing for all of us.

“2013 has been very good, by far the best season in my career. I will now be aiming to come up with more consistent performances in the upcoming events. I have been playing in the domestic circuit and Challenge

events for sometime now, so my focus will be doing well in Grand Prixs,“ said Pradnya, who wants to emulate the “game“ and “mental composure“ of national coach Pullela Gopichand.

With 2014 set to be an important year for sportspersons, Pradnya should be on the Badminton Association of India's radar while naming the squads for the Asian Games and Common-wealth Games.

But Pradnya's dreams are even bigger. “I want to win the Olympic gold.“

The shuttler will now be in action at the senior nationals here, that got under way with the qualifiers on Monday followed by the two-day inter-state championship and four days of individual events.

BAI MUM OVER SAINA'S PARTICIPATION Despite speculation that world no. 6 Saina Nehwal has withdrawn from the nationals, the BAI has maintained silence over her participation.

Meanwhile, Saina's team Petroleum Sports Promotion Board said they had no confirmation about her withdrawal. “I have learnt from someone that she is not well. I was trying to speak to her but could not reach her. But we are sending her name in the team list,“ a PSPB official said.