When one hears the name Ashwini Ponnappa, you are immediately transported to the Golden era of Indian Doubles badminton when two women, fighting all odds, managed to do what Singles badminton could not at the time. It was an era before Saina Nehwal, before PV Sindhu. A time when two names reigned supreme- Jwala Gutta and Ashwini. Cut back to 2018 and one out of that dynamic duo is still playing, still making a mark- but in a slightly different zone. Wandering on waters that have previously been largely uncharted by the veteran Ponnappa, she has put her Mixed Doubles career in partnership with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy on equal par with her Women's Doubles game with Sikki Reddy. The 17-year old Satwik, India's latest and among the youngest of success stories in Badminton seems to be a prodigious young talent with the penchant to quickly pick up his game at any given moment. In fact, it is this adaptability that has largely helped the youngster take massive strides in improving his game in a quick period of time. The fact that both he and his Men's Doubles partner Chirag Shetty had been playing and doing well with other players before they found each other (in somewhat forced circumstances, it might be added) speaks volumes if one were to consider their steady upward curve. The duo have now found themselves in the Top 20 World Rankings- a testament to the resilience that both undoubtedly carry. Can Satwik and Chirag recreate the early Lee-Hesh days in Badminton? While speaking to The Bridge ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Satwik had made it a point to highlight the special effect that Ashwini had had on his game. "In India, we largely lack a Doubles idol. There have been many in Singles but this lack and the blatant neglect we sometimes face can play a major role in discouraging youngsters from a career in Doubles." "Out of Chirag and me, I am the only one who plays both Men's and Mixed Doubles."
Also read: "Not only has that helped me grow as a player but also as a person. We have a good rapport off the court, and I have realised that there is so much to learn from her- even beyond the Game.""Undoubtedly, keeping up an equal temperament in both would not have been possible without the guidance of a senior player like Ashwini," Satwik continued.