Partnership with Sikki Reddy needs time, says Ashwini Ponnappa

Mumbai: Experienced doubles shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa believes that she and her new partner Sikki Reddy will “need some time to reach the heights” like she did with her former partner Jwala Gutta as the duo gear up for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

“It took Jwala and me about a year and few months to win our first title and that was at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. I know that new partnerships take time to click and being patient is the key to success,” Ashwini said.

Ponnappa and Reddy crashed out of the BWF world championships in the second round against Kamila Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen. It was held on the familiar courts of Glasgow where Jwala and Ashwini had bagged silver in the Commonwealth Games 2014. 

“Though we played a good game, the difference was how the last couple of points panned out. Our opponents were calm and composed while we were eager to get points and ended up making mistakes towards the end,” admitted Ponnappa.

It was in November 2016 when Ashwini won her first major match with new partner Reddy at the Scottish Open Grand Prix. Earlier this year, they emerged as runners-up in the Syed Modi International Championships.

“Sikki and I have been playing together for less than a year. It takes time to get good results. Being patient and getting back strong after loss is the challenging part,” she says.

“Every tournament we play helps prepare for the Commonwealth Games next year. We will probably become better as a team by then. The major challenge would be to improve our performance at the Super Series tournaments,” she adds.

Ashwini and Jwala brought a change to the doubles badminton scenario with their achievements in the Commonwealth Games 2010. It created a buzz around the country as they made a big name for themselves. 

However, there was a dip in their performance and Ponnappa has now taken up the challenge of teaming up with the less-experienced Reddy. 

Ponnappa is currently a Red-Bull athlete.