Jwala Gutta, a popular badminton star, is not an aggressive on the shuttle court but she’s also well known for daringly expressing her angst and making public outburst on national organizations that failed to recognize her work. When it comes to fighting Badminton of India (BAI) or irking Sports Authority of India (SAI), Jwala always felt she was being discriminated by the system.
Now, in a very recent incident, the Hyderabadi shuttler took a swipe at Padma awards and the system for ignoring her 15 years of incessant work to the nation. Hours after the central government announced list the Padma Awardees, the star player who didn’t find her name in the list indirectly attacked jury and the system that failed to recognize her medals and laurels for the country.
Being one of the specialist players when it comes to doubles, Jwala Gutta won several medals and tournaments in her brief career and her victorious pairing with Ashwini Ponnappa was ranked best in 2015.
In her social media outburst against the system, the 33-year old badminton player alleged that Padma Awards will work for recommendations. Read the complete post where she feels ‘let down’ and raged against the discrimination that led to denial of Padma award for her:
“I always wondered the concept of applying for particular award which is the most reputed awards in our country.. but then that’s what the procedure is.. so I did apply…applied cos it’s prestigious to have the award..cos I thought maybe I made the people of my country proud by my game and deserved it…I have been playing for this country for more than 15 years now..and have won so many prestigious tournaments..I thought maybe I should apply..but I guess it’s never enough..you need recommendations, recommendations that you deserve an award. You need to put in a word and get letters and the list goes on and on..but the question I still have is why do I have to apply for an award and also ask for recommendation. Aren’t my credentials good enough? Well I am really curious about the whole system..My two consecutive medals, Delhi CWG gold and Glasgow silver is not enough, My World Championships medal is not enough, I was top 10 ranked in this women doubles and mixed doubles and my superseries performance and medals in Grand Prix gold is not enough..I’m 15 times NationaI champion and I am also the first Indian to qualify for two events in Olympics in Indian history, I’m the first Indian to win a medal after Prakash Padukone sir in world championships and so many other firsts.. I have laid path for doubles in Badminton for our country when nobody took it seriously..but it’s simply isn’t enough..why cos I am outspoken? Cos I am opinionated? why is it that I am being denied of this particular award? Now I really don’t know should I be asking for this award…or I simply don’t deserve it. if this is not enough what is?”
It’s already known that the list of sports persons who would receive Padma awards include former captain MS Dhoni, cricketer Virat Kohli, Hockey captain PR Sreejesh, PV Sindhu Wrestler Sakshi Malik, Para-athlete Deepa Malik, Mariyappan Thangavelu and others.