Bangalore :
Grace on and off the court; clear thought and a dedicated approach; a level head on capable shoulders. With qualities like these, it’s no surprise that Karnataka shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa has become one of the game’s leading lights and Indian badminton’s success story of the past few years.

The Kodava beauty, stunning looks and sharp mind to match, is best known as Hyderabadi Jwala Gutta’s partner. The duo that came together in 2009 with not many expectations to deliver, hit the big time shortly after their Commonwealth Games gold medal in New Delhi in 2010, when they bagged a priceless bronze in the 2011 Badminton World Federation World Championships in London.

The medal ended a 28-year-wait for the nation and the world No. 20 pair’s performance silenced critics. They also reached the quarterfinals of the China Open and Korea Open in 2011.

Soft-spoken and articulate, Ashwini is the yin to the effervescent Jwala’s yang. On the court too, she has become a balancing force with great adaptability. A former student of Bangalore’s St Francis Xavier’s Girl’s High School, the 22-year-old is a natural athlete with sport in her genes. Her father, MA Ponnappa, was a state hockey midfielder who took part in eight Nationals between 1974 and 1986 before turning out for Roman club Eur in a fruitful stint in Italian league hockey.

The banker, together with his wife Kaveri, instilled in their daughter’s mind the basics of success. Whether it was the long hours they devoted to the young Ashwini, helping with studies and homework, or picking her up after school and practice, efforts paid off. Never ones to pressure Ashwini to study harder, the Ponnappas gave their daughter a valuable gift early on – the choice to pursue her dreams. While veterinary sciences appealed to her, badminton was her passion. And the young woman hasn’t looked back since.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> More Sports> Badminton / by Shrivatsha Sridhar, TNN / March 27th, 2013