Jwala’s target is to get fitter for Rio

Former World championship women’s doubles bronze medallist G. Jwala has said that the target for her is to get fitter and better for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“Yes, I am much lighter now having lost seven kg after the nearly one-month training stint with the Malaysian doubles specialist coach Tan Kim Her at Gopi Chand Academy. But, ready to bear the huge responsibility of being one of the medal hopes in women’s doubles (partnering Ashwini Ponappa) in the next year’s Olympics,” Jwala said in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Jwala said that she has had a very good 2015 having won the Canadian Open Grand Prix and reaching the semifinals of US Open and the World championship quarterfinals. “It could have been better. But no regrets,” she said.

“We (she and Ashwini) are glad that we achieved the objective of being close to the top 10 combinations consistently (now ranked World No. 14) which should help us in booking a slot for the Rio Olympics,” she said.

“I can tell you that I am feeling much better and fitter after training with Tan Kim. Honestly, the last time we played in Olympics, we have not cared to focus on this core area. Now, I am extremely fit and raring to go. He has actually changed the training pattern for me and is making me do some exercises which I have not really given that much importance earlier,” Jwala said.

“The best part is that the coach knows our strengths and weaknesses and accordingly giving the best of training to me and Ashwini as well,” she added.

The champion doubles shuttler, who plays for Hyderabad Hunters in the Premier Badminton League next month (she played for Delhi Smashers in the first edition), said that the league was very important not just to the players but also for Indian badminton.

“It presents so many opportunities and chances to keep improving sharing your thoughts with some of the best players. For instance, imagine the kind of impact a young player of Hunters will have if the former World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei (also of Hunters) shares his thoughts on the game and watches his training schedule,” she said. “It is a pity that we missed one year of this grand event,” she added.

Jwala decided to take things in her stride and not to crib about issues on which she did not have any control. “I don’t think any purpose will be served. And, so I will not comment on the issue of women’s doubles which is my event (along with mixed doubles) not being in the PBL format. I would have definitely loved it to be there,” she said.

“Well, I enjoy being called a veteran for it reflects the kind of experience I have in the international circuit if not the age. Yes, there are some who get offended when someone calls them a veteran. But, I don’t think anything wrong in this,” she said with a smile.

“It is a great feeling to play for my ‘home team’ Hyderabad Hunters. I can claim that I am the only one more of a Hyderabadi of the whole lot and I am really excited to play and hope the team does really well in the PBL,” Jwala said.