New Delhi: 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medalists Jwala Gutta has pulled out from the Asian Games, after sustaining a sprain in the right knee. After a diagnosis, her doctor has advised her to take a break for the next 14 days, to avoid aggravating the injury.
“It’s really unfortunate. Actually, I already felt little pain after I started training following the World Championship but it was still okay until I sprained my knee yesterday,” said Gutta.
“There was swelling and my doctors advised me to rest for 10-12 days, which means I will miss out on the Asian Games,” she said.
“It was a tough decision, but important. I hope Ashwini will understand,” added Gutta.
As for Gutta’s women’s doubles partner – Ashwini Ponnappa, he was left in limbo in both women’s doubles and mixed doubles as her mixed doubles’ partner Tarun Kona was axed from the final Asian Games’ athletes list announced by India’s sports ministry on Tuesday.
There is a possibility of the 24-year-old doubles specialist pairing with Pradnya Gadre. The two had started playing together after Jwala took a break following the London Olympics. When Jwala and Ashwini decided to reunite late last year, Gadre started partnering N Siki Reddy. Just like they had paired up during the Uber Cup, Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu may be forced to play the second doubles in Incheon too.
But the big question is whom will Ashwini pair with in the individual event. With Aparna’s name withdrawn, there is no second doubles player to fall back on. Tarun is Ashwini’s regular mixed doubles partner, but has not been cleared and there is a possibility of her partnering one of the four male doubles players in the Incheon squad. But her participation in the doubles comes under a cloud. She now has to wait for national coach Pullela Gopichand’s decision on her partners in the women’s and mixed doubles.
