Jwala flays IBL organisers for auction mess

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Even before it got underway, the Indian Badminton League was mired in controversy over the ‘devaluation’ of two of India’s premiere shuttlers — Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa. And it doesn’t look like the IBL’s troubles are going away anytime soon.
“If someone had called me a week ago and told me they wouldn’t be able to pay me as much money as earlier promised, I would not have had a problem. The fact that they haven’t bothered to call me about this smacks of disrespect.”
This statement alone should be enough underscore the hurt felt by Hyderabad ace Jwala over the IBL player auction kerfuffle.
Being an icons player whose base price was set at $50,000 each, Jwala wase humiliated when the base price was halved after she went unsold the first time around at Monday’s auction. The same thing happened with Jwala’s former doubles partner, Ashwini Ponnappa.
“It has been a very stressful couple of days,” added Jwala. “I was shocked when I first heard, because nobody bothered to inform us. The first I learnt of this was through the media,” she exclaimed.
The feisty southpaw went on to say she did not think any word was forthcoming from the organisers. “Whatever happened, it’s all in black and white. I’m not expecting any explanation from anyone because the society we’re living in, nobody takes responsibility for their wrongdoings.
“The least I expected is to be informed when such things happen. I’ve done my bit — I’ve performed for my country, I’ve won medals. Before me, I don’t think there was any doubles player of note. I have changed the way people look at doubles,” Jwala said. “We work hard, train hard every day. We have won so many laurels for the country, so to be treated in this fashion hurts. Even Ashwini is hurt by the turn of events,” she added.
The reason given by the IBL, that being available for just one event instead of two took the sheen away from the duo, was dismissed by Jwala as “stupid.”
“I’ve always been a doubles specialist. Everyone involved in the IBL knows I’m a doubles specialist. In fact, in mixed doubles, I’ve been ranked in the top-6 in the world. Nobody can question my credentials. So it is stupid to halve my base price just because I’m now available only for mixed doubles. Even singles players play in just their event. Why wasn’t their base price brought down?
“I signed a contract which clearly stated what my base price would be at the auction. And without being informed, it was brought down. Who wouldn’t feel bad, cheated or let down? I’ve promoted IBL right from the beginning. I’ve been to other cities, like Delhi and Pune to promote the League.
“Since the IBL is a commercial venture, I had assumed all the icon players would be treated equally. That clearly hasn’t happened.”