"Champion Achievements: Ashwini's Glory"

Ashwini Ponnappa, an Indian badminton player, made history in 2010 when she, along with Jwala Gutta, clinched gold in women’s doubles at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, marking the first Indian pair to achieve this feat. Subsequently, they earned bronze at the World Championships in 2011 and the Asian Championships in 2014, while also contributing to various team events such as the Uber Cup and the Asian Games.

Their career reached new heights with a world ranking of World No. 10, which was quite remarkable for Indian badminton, where singles often took precedence over doubles. After Gutta retired in 2017, Ponnappa continued her journey, partnering with N Sikki Reddy and making it to several finals before their partnership concluded last year.

Ponnappa contemplated taking a break from her doubles career to focus on mixed doubles. However, she decided to pursue her passion for doubles independently, teaming up with a much younger partner, Tanisha Crasto. The age difference was substantial, as Crasto was just a child when Ponnappa won the Commonwealth Games gold.

Despite the age gap, the pair found comfort and synergy on the court during their training sessions last year. They quickly adapted to each other’s playing styles, with Crasto excelling at the net, allowing Ponnappa to dominate the backcourt. Their partnership bore fruit when they reached the quarterfinals in their first tournament together, the Indonesia Masters, in January.

Ponnappa appreciates Crasto’s youthful enthusiasm and motivation, which rejuvenates her own passion for the sport. Their successful partnership continued, leading to a victory at the Nantes International Challenge in June.

As they prepare for the Asian Games, Ponnappa emphasizes the importance of taking each game as it comes and focusing on the basics. She is also prioritizing her physical well-being, dedicating time to cooldown routines and recovery exercises to prevent injuries. She believes age should not hinder her performance and is motivated by the evolving landscape of doubles badminton in India, with younger players showing immense promise.

Ponnappa remains dedicated to her professional career, aspiring to achieve more milestones while letting her actions speak louder than words, just as she did 13 years ago.

Re-reported from the article originally published in Money Control