2024-08-15 21:23:46
New Delhi: After a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics, India’s badminton player Ashwini Ponnappa has expressed her disappointment over funding. Ashwini Ponnappa believes that there was little or no personal financial support from the Sports Ministry to prepare for the Paris Olympics and even her request for a coach was rejected.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has come up with a document detailing the financial assistance provided to the Indian players who participated in the Paris Olympics. According to this document, Ashwini was provided Rs 4,50,000 under the TOPS or Target Olympic Podium Program, along with Rs 1,48,04,080 under the annual calendar of practice and events.
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The pair of Ashwini and Tanisha played for India in the Paris Olympics, but they could not win a single match and were eliminated from the group stage. Ashwini said, ‘We did not perform well and I take responsibility for it but you cannot say that I am getting this amount when I did not receive it at all.’ Ashwini said, ‘I am really very surprised. I have no objection to not getting money but telling the country that I took money is ridiculous. I did not receive any money. If you are talking about the national camp, then Rs 1.5 crore was spent on all the players who participated.’
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Ashwini also expressed her problems regarding the coach. She said, ‘I did not even have a coach of my choice. As far as my personal trainer is concerned, I bore his expenses myself. I did not take money from anyone. I continued playing at my own expense till November 2023. I was included in the TOPS only when we qualified for the Olympics.’
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India’s top doubles player, 34-year-old Ashwini won gold, silver and bronze respectively in the Commonwealth Games 2010, 2014 and 2018. She participated in the London and Rio Olympics in pairing with Jwala Gutta. Giving details of the expenditure of Rs 1.48 crore, a SAI source said, ‘This amount was spent on travel, accommodation, food, competition fees etc. in all the competitions in which she participated before the Olympics. This amount was given to the Badminton Association of India under ACTC.’
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I have not received any help for a year now
Ashwini, who paired with N Sikki Reddy till August 2022, paired with Tanisha Crasto in December of the same year. The pair started playing in international tournaments from January 2023. On the basis of good performance in some tournaments, the pair managed to qualify for the Olympics. Ashwini said, ‘The ministry has always supported me. I have been a part of the team for years and I am grateful for the support I have received. Last year I did not get any support and that is fine. You cannot say that I have been given Rs 1.5 crore. If this amount is for more than four years then it is still fine because then I was playing in pair with Sikki and was a part of TOPS.’