New Delhi: Six months ago, in a surprise decision, the Badminton Association of India’s disciplinary committee has recommended a life ban on top Indian doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta for trying to 
stop some players of her franchise Delhi Smashers from playing a match against Banga Beats in the India Badminton League.
Fortunately, after went through a long bitter legal battle and many legal proceedings, the Delhi High Court finally overrule the lifetime ban.
Jwala Gutta told reporter that such experience had been the “hurt and pain” of the last six months that she has not been able celebrate her bronze medal at the recent Asian Badminton Championships to the fullest.
“I am now playing with vengeance, and the bronze medal is sort of revenge for me. There is a lot of hurt and pain. If I would not have had to go through the trauma of what happened six months back, I would have enjoyed this medal win with more calmness,” Jwala said.
“I was aghast when my name was drawn unnecessarily into the controversy. I did not understand why I was being blamed when I only acted on the instructions of my team (Delhi Smashers) and as a captain I was only talking on behalf of my teammates. What surprised me most was they accused me of delaying the match when in reality it was the organizers who caused the delay while trying to resolve the issue.” Jwala said she was shocked when she heard about the proposal to impose a life ban on her.”
She doesn’t understand why she had to go through all those unnecessary distractions, “Frankly, I don’t understand why I have to prove myself again and again. I have achieved enough and I am proud of my achievements. I won medals at Commonwealth Games, World Championship, I represented India in Olympics. Even the bronze at ABC is a first for Indian badminton. There is still no one in the team to replace me and Ashwini.
“We have achieved all that without support. But even today we have to struggle for sponsorship,” she added.
The 14-time national champion has once again answered her critics with her performance at the ABC; Jwala is now targeting a medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
