“We wanted our doubles coach and we were denied” - Ashwini Ponnappa reveals her request for a coach for Paris Olympics 2024 was turned down
Ace Indian doubles shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa recently stated that her request for a doubles coach at the Paris Olympics 2024 was turned down ahead of the Summer Games.
Taking to social media platform LinkedIn, Ponappa wrote:
“The fact is, as far as support goes, we wanted our doubles coach, who is such an integral part of our doubles team, to travel with us, and we were denied this.".
Ashwini Ponappa in another interview added that though she doesn’t have a specific coach, she is paying from her own pocket for her personalized trainer. The ace shuttles also claimed that she was added to the TOPS core group after making the cut for the Summer Games.
"I don't have a specific coach. As for my personalised trainer, I'm paying for him myself. I'm not taking money from anyone. I've played on my own until November (2023). I was included as part of TOPS only after we qualified,” Ashwini told PTI.
Ashwini Ponnappa quashes reports of financial assistance from sports ministry
In a document by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), it detailed the financial support of ₹4.5 lakh provided to Ashwini and ₹1.48 crore support under Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) for procurement of game ready recovery equipment, international competitions and sparring partner in the Tokyo Olympics cycle.
However, Ashwini Ponnappa went on to state that she received little to no financial assistance from the sports ministry in the run-up to the Olympics in Paris.
“I have funded myself for tournaments until Nov last year, after which I was sent with the Indian team for tournaments as I met the selection criteria to make the team. I was included as part of TOPS scheme only after qualifying for the Paris 2024 Games till the Olympic Games, that’s it,” she added on LinkedIn.
The 34-year-old shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa secured a gold, silver and bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018, respectively. She was also part of the London, and Rio Games.
After multiple impressive performances in the lead-up to the Olympics, she made the cut for the Games in Paris, earning a spot in the TOPS scheme in May 2024.