Given a choice I want PV Sindhu as partner: Ashwini Ponnappa

Mumbai: India’s ace doubles badminton player Ashwini Ponnappa – who is left without a partner for the upcoming Asian Games after Jwala Gutta pulled out due to a knee injury – said she would personally prefer PV Sindhu to join her. The shuttler will be only playing the team events as her mixed doubles partner Tarun Kona, who has been dropped from the contingent, will be absent too.

“I’m playing the doubles event despite Jwala not being there is because it is important for the team and country. Given a choice, I’ll like to play with PV Sindhu but at the end of the day, it is a team event. We’ll have a meeting and what we decide there will be final,” said the sport’s pin-up girl Ashwini.

Even her coach Tom John believes the pair can be lethal. “They would click because Sindhu has played doubles before (in the junior level) and is an all-court player. I’ve coached her back then. She has the technique and Ashwini is good on the net,” said John.

Recently, Sindhu played doubles in the Thomas and Uber Cup.

”She is also gritty and fast, has a good smash,” added Ashwini.

Another reason which might benefit the pair, according to John, is Sindhu’s strength at the back. “Ashwini doesn’t need to rain down 101 smashes all by herself at the back. Her work load will be much less. If they team up, I’m afraid nobody would know how to handle them,” added John.

However, Ashwini is also worried about Sindhu being able to bear the burden of two events.

What raises eyebrows is her not taking Pradnya Gadre’s name despite playing with her in the past.

“I don’t think I would like to play with her. It is entirely my opinion and choice but if I am required to do that for the team’s sake, I will,” said Ashwini.

On the other hand, John said that Gadre is not strong enough and needs to train harder. “She won’t be able to cope up in the international level right now,” he asserted.