Ace badminton doubles player Ashwini Ponappa is confident that she can repeat her 2010 Commonwealth Games performance along with new playing partner Pradnya Gadre in Glasgow next year.
The talented shuttler believes they are improving as a team and aim to break into the top-20 rankings before the end of this year.
“We are improving with every tournament and have a couple of good wins to boost our confidence. I am confident we can do well at the 2014 CWG and the Asian Games next year,” Ponappa said on the sidelines of an event here on Monday.
Ashwini and Pradnya stunned China’s Ma Jin and Tang Jinhua in the second round at the Malaysia Open Superseries early this year, but could not repeat their performance at the Sudirman Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
“Now our aim will be to do well in the World Championships in Guangzhou from August 5. We also want to break into the top 20 by year end.”
Ashwini created a stir after winning gold with Jwala Gutta at the Delhi CWG and a bronze in the World Championships in 2011. Jwala and Ashwini last played together at the London Olympics after which the former took a brief sabbatical, while Ashwini went on to partner Pradnya.
Jwala later paired up with Pradnya’s one-time doubles partner Prajakta Sawant.
The Hyderabad-based doubles player didn’t completely rule out pairing up again with Jwala in future but said, “In order to achieve good results, I want to stick with Pradnya at the moment and focus with her.”
The 23-year-old, who played second fiddle to Jwala, is willing to reverse roles now. “Jwala had nine years of experience. She was confident, played a domineering role and was very supportive.
“Pradnya doesn’t have much experience. I have to take the initiative and motivate her as a senior player. Pradnya is also good at the net and I will continue to play at the back but it will be different. I have to take up more responsibility.
“I have started taking mixed doubles seriously now. I have a good partner in Tarun Kona. Though I have played with him a lot but we only started playing professionally from September.”