Fiery Jwala Gutta launches academy, throws down the gauntlet to Gopichand

Jwala Gutta Academy of Excellence has 14 badminton courts

jwala-gutta

Jwala Gutta has never held back when it comes to differing with the Badminton Association of India (BAI) or Pullela Gopichand, the head coach of Indian badminton, in the past. Quite often, she has been more in the right especially when it comes to questioning coaching and selection decisions. However, to add more muscle to her arguments about what is wrong with the existing coaching and training system and in a bid to follow up her views with real action, the fiery former doubles player announced the launch of a state-of-the-art, multi-sport academy in Hyderabad, barely 30km away from Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy.

The Jwala Gutta Academy of Excellence, totally funded by Gutta, boasts of a seating capacity for over 600 people. Located on the premises of Sujatha High School, Gachibowli, it will have education facility for 100 academy children. Other facilities include a world-class gym and yoga centre to provide athletes with a one-stop destination for all necessities. It has 14 badminton courts and is undoubtedly one of the biggest badminton academies in the country.

Also present at the launch to lend support to her latest endeavor were former Union minister Rajeev Prasad Rudy, who is an avid badminton player himself, 2008 Olympics bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh and double Olympic medallist (2008 and 2012) wrestler Sushil Kumar.

Speaking on a wide range of issues plaguing Indian badminton, despite it being on a high with champions like Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, Gutta said her main role in the academy would be that of a mentor and not a coach. She also made it clear that she was keen to head the doubles badminton programme in India as it needed to be separately looked into. “Yes, former players have academies, but nobody protects their own players. They should, otherwise why complain one academy takes away all players. Whole system is such; that is why I have come in. I will protect interests of my players, and not cry if somebody tries to take away the players. That will be my main focus. I won’t interfere with coaching, I have not learnt coaching. I will be a mentor. Every good player cannot be the best coach. My role is to be the middle person to decide what coaches and players need. I am that bridge.”

Gutta, who is also part of the national selection committee, when asked whether she too is in a conflict of interest as a selector and an academy owner admitted she was and that was the existing system. “Nobody takes you seriously till you have muscle power, till you have academy. My question was why have all camps in one place only? They said Jwala where else is the facility? Now I have an answer, I will see it happens or not.”

She, however, turned down the idea of returning to the court. “I can’t think of one doubles player who I want to play with today. I am in selection committee, I see the players….We need complete revamp of doubles players. Are you sure of the women’s doubles team and mixed doubles team qualifying for Tokyo 2020? Don’t you think I have credentials to lead and head doubles programme today but certain people don’t want me!”

Its no secret that Gutta has had a massive share of differences when it came to doubles teams’ training programme under Gopichand’s charge. She has red flagged many issues but with Gopichand backed fully by BAI, it was like banging her head against a brick wall. “Doubles needs a correction in administration of doubles teams training. People are not educated about how important doubles is. Doubles players are also not speaking up. I feel sad for them. They also should speak up, but if they do they will get dropped. Doubles players need to be highlighted when they win,” said Gutta.

On the issue of whether Gopichand’s own multiple conflict of interests were hampering Indian badminton’s growth beyond what it is today, she said he is the architect of current system and all his talk of saying he has no support for the increasing number of top players was untrue. On whether there was too much power vested in Gopichand, she laughed and said, “ He is chief coach, chief selector, runs his own academy, is district association secretary, part of TOPS, PBL, selection committee chairman!” When probed further whether he still has full support of BAI, Gutta said not totally. “I don’t think so. He made the system. From 2006, he is chief coach. BAI presidents have changed, he has been there. Whose fault is it? He made the system.”

Gutta says her focus, other than training future badminton players, is on also upgrading coaching standards of present Indian coaches. She says knowledge upgradation apart, good remuneration is key. She has roped in her childhood coach Mohammed Arif to oversee the coaching programme at her academy. She will initially, however, depend on foreign coaches and will look to funding them herself.

Besides badminton, the academy will have cricket, tennis and swimming facilities too.