Kolkata: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has recently been reconstituted and India’s most successful women’s doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta has been appointed as a governing body member in the organisation. Jwala, who is a fourteen-time national champion said she was looking forward to play her role in the development of sports in the country. The two-time Olympian, has won the bronze medal in the 2011 World Championship, won gold in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and also won a silver medal in the 2014 Glasgow Games in women’s doubles. “The first meeting will be held on March 28 in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi and I am really looking forward to it. I don’t yet know the details of my responsibilities but I will do my best.” Jwala said
“I am really excited to be appointed as a member of SAI governing body. I got a call a couple of days back when they informed me about it. I have always wanted to do something for sports. It is for the betterment and development of sports and I am really looking forward to it,” she added.
In a letter to Jwala, SAI Secretary SS Chhabra said, “It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been appointed as the member of Governing Body of SAI. I am sure you would be able to spare your valuable time to attend Governing Body meetings as and when scheduled by the chairman.”
While Jwala has contributed to the game on the court she has also been doing a lot off it to make sure the sport has a bright future in India. Other than being appointed as a governing body member in SAI, the badminton champ recently launched her own badminton academy in her hometown of Hyderabad, which will serve as a talent scout to discover the next big name in the game.
(With inputs from PTI)