HYDERABAD: The cold war between Punniah Choudhury, secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association (APBA), and doubles specialist Jwala Gutta turned into an open war on Thursday with the feisty lady calling the former a big liar for allegedly claiming that she doesn’t belong to the State.“Saying that I do not belong to AP makes me very angry. Who is APBA fooling? Even the State Government has recommended my name for the Padma Shri award!” said Jwala. Speaking to City Express, she said she was saddened by the utterances of the APBA secretary. “Punniah is a big liar. I don’t know why APBA is targeting me. I spoke to the APBA president (Durga Prasad) but there is no response. They may try to demoralise me in the Olympic year but I’m a fighter,” Jwala said.Punniah, who had allegedly called Jwala an outsider as she represents the Petroleum Board, however, did a U-turn. “I never said we would not honour Jwala. We sent her an invitation twice to felicitate her during the junior State championship but she was busy with international tournaments. We have nothing against her. All the players are same to us. I had only said she plays for the Petroleum Board at present,” he clarified.The row erupted following the failure of the APBA to felicitate Jwala after she and Ashwini Ponnappa created history by becoming the first doubles pair from India to win a bronze medal at the World Badminton Championship in London in August. Ashwini Ponnappa was felicitated by the Karnataka badminton association. Criticizing the APBA, former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin, who contested for the post of the president of the Badminton Association of India, accused the APBA of indulging in dirty politics. “Jwala deserves the award and it is the duty of the APBA to felicitate her,” he felt.Former chief national coach Syed Mohammad Arif too said it was sad that the APBA was making an issue where there was none. “Jwala’s show at London is one of the greatest achievements by any Indian player after Prakash Padukone. We could win a medal in World Championship after 28 years! Jwala is one of the biggest hopes for India in 2012 London Olympics where she has a chance in women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Instead of encouraging her, the APBA is indulging in nasty politics,” said the veteran coach.On the domicile controversy, Arif wondered, “Why should they raise this issue time and again? She was born and brought up here. Jwala has been representing AP in National Games since 2002 and won gold medals. If you question why she’s representing the Petroleum Board, the same yardstick should have been applied for Gopichand when he won the All England or Saina Nehwal. Saina was born in Haryana.”
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