Jwala Gutta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jwala Gutta
Gutta in 2011
Personal information
Born	(1983-09-07) 7 September 1983 (age 41) Wardha, Maharashtra, India
Residence	Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Height	1.78m
Weight	75 kg
Country	India
Years active	1999–2017
Handedness	Left
Mixed Doubles/ Women's Doubles
Highest Ranking	6 (XD August 2010) 10 (WD August 2015)

Jwala Gutta (born 7 September 1983) is a famous Indian badminton player. She has played for India in international events since the late 1990s. Jwala is known for her amazing skills in both mixed doubles and women's doubles.

She has won 316 matches in these events, which is the most by any Indian player. Jwala reached a high ranking of No. 6 in the world. She has won many medals at big tournaments, including a silver at the 2009 Superseries Masters Finals. She also won a bronze at the 2011 World Championships.

Jwala was born in Wardha to a Chinese mother and an Indian father. She started playing badminton when she was very young. She has won the Indian National Championship 14 times! She first played with Shruti Kurien, then found even more success with Ashwini Ponnappa.

Jwala Gutta made history by being the first Indian badminton player to qualify for two events at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She played women's doubles with Ashwini Ponnappa and mixed doubles with V. Diju. Jwala is known for her powerful left-handed shots. She is also one of the few doubles players who uses a forehand serve.

Jwala has won many important medals for India in badminton. These include a bronze at the 2011 World Championships and a gold and silver at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games. These were the first medals for India in women's doubles at these games. She also won a historic bronze medal at the 2014 Uber Cup.

Jwala Gutta is famous for making doubles badminton popular in India. She and her mixed doubles partner Diju were the first Indian doubles team to be ranked in the top 10. Later, her partnership with Ashwini Ponnappa also became very successful.

Besides badminton, Jwala speaks up for important causes. She supports fair treatment in sports, health, education, and equality for women. She has been named one of India's most inspiring sportswomen. She received the Arjuna Award, which is a high honor for athletes in India.

Early Life and Training

Jwala Gutta was born on 7 September 1983 in Wardha, Maharashtra. She grew up in Hyderabad, Telangana. Her father, Kranti Gutta, is Indian, and her mother, Yelan Gutta, is Chinese. Yelan came to India in 1977 to visit the Sevagram ashram. She even translated Gandhi's books into Chinese. Jwala also has a younger sister named Insi.

Jwala first wanted to play tennis. But her mother encouraged her to try badminton. When Jwala was four, her father introduced her to national badminton coach S. M. Arif. He told her to learn gymnastics or swimming first. Later, she started training with Arif at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium.

Jwala began playing badminton at age six. Her first big win was the Under-13 Girls Mini National Badminton Championship. In 2000, at 17, she won the Junior National Badminton Championship. That same year, she won the Women's Doubles Junior and Senior National Championships with Shruti Kurien. Jwala and Shruti won the Women's Doubles National title seven times in a row, from 2002 to 2008.

Her Unique Playing Style

Jwala Gutta loves to play aggressive badminton. She is very good near the net, with clever shots and quick reactions. She is known for being dangerous in the front part of the court. She can read the game well and make sharp moves. Jwala also has a strong smash from the back of the court. She often uses tricky drop shots.

Sometimes, Jwala can make mistakes if she has to move too much around the court. She has also faced some fitness and injury problems in her long career. Jwala is special because she is one of the few top doubles players who still uses a forehand serve. Most other doubles players use a safer backhand serve.

Amazing Wins in Women's Doubles

Early Years: 2002–2009

Jwala Gutta first played women's doubles with Shruti Kurien-Kanetkar. They reached the semi-finals of their second international tournament in 2002. They also did well in other tournaments, like finishing second at the Toulouse Open in 2004. In 2006, they won the Sri Lanka International Satellite tournament. In 2007, they won the Cyprus Badminton International and other events. They also won the Nepal International Series and Yonex Dutch Open Grand Prix in 2008.

Commonwealth Gold and Big Success

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa winning gold for India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games

Jwala later teamed up with young Ashwini Ponnappa. They won a fantastic gold medal in women's doubles at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. This was India's first gold medal in this event! They beat a strong Singaporean team in the finals. Jwala and Ashwini became very famous after this win. They helped bring women's doubles into the spotlight in India.

After their win, Jwala said, "It's unbelievable. Ashwini played so well. I want to thank my family, coaches, and team members." She also added, "This medal will show my critics what I can do. I am very happy."

World Championships Bronze Medal

In 2011, Jwala and Ashwini made history again. They became the first Indian pair to win a medal at the World Badminton Championships. They won a bronze medal in London after reaching the semi-finals. They had beaten strong teams, including former World No. 1 players. This achievement is considered one of the greatest in Indian badminton history.

London Olympics Journey

Jwala Gutta played in both women's doubles and mixed doubles at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She was the first Indian player ever to qualify for two events at the Olympics. Jwala and Ashwini won two of their three group matches. However, they narrowly missed reaching the quarter-finals by just one point.

Coming Back Stronger: IBL and Reuniting

After the Olympics, Jwala took a short break. In 2013, she announced her return to badminton. She first played with Prajakta Sawant. The Indian Badminton League (IBL) started that year. Jwala was one of the top players chosen to lead a team. She captained the Delhi team.

After the IBL, Jwala and Ashwini decided to play together again. They wanted to team up because the IBL had removed the women's doubles category. This decision had upset both players.

More Medals: Asian and Commonwealth Games

In 2014, Jwala and Ashwini won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships. They also played a big part in India winning a historic bronze medal at the 2014 Thomas & Uber Cup in New Delhi. They beat much higher-ranked teams, helping India reach the semi-finals for the first time in Uber Cup history.

Later that year, they won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This was their second medal at the Commonwealth Games, following their gold in 2010.

Winning in Canada and Top Ranking

Jwala and Ashwini started 2015 well, reaching the semi-finals of the India Open. They then won the 2015 Canada Open Grand Prix title. This was their first title since they reunited after the 2012 Olympics. This win was praised by the Indian media. Jwala also spoke about the need for more support for doubles badminton in India.

They continued their good form and reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 BWF World Championships. This helped them enter the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time. Jwala became the first Indian player to be ranked in the top 10 in both women's and mixed doubles.

Uber Cup Bronze Again

In 2016, Jwala was part of the Indian team that won another bronze medal at the 2016 Thomas & Uber Cup in China. Jwala and Ashwini won their match in the quarter-finals, helping India reach the semi-finals and secure their second bronze medal in a row.

Success in Mixed Doubles

First Big Wins

Jwala Gutta has won many titles in mixed doubles. She won tournaments like the Jakarta Satellite and Welsh International in 2005. She also won the Sri Lanka International Satellite and Cyprus Badminton International in 2007. In 2008, she won the Nepal International Series and Bitburger Open Grand Prix.

Reaching the Top 10

Jwala Gutta and V. Diju won the Chinese Taipei Open in 2009.

Jwala and her partner Valiyaveetil Diju made a big breakthrough in 2009. They became the first Indian mixed doubles pair to win a Grand Prix Gold title at the Chinese Taipei Open. They beat an Indonesian team in the final.

Their biggest achievement that year was reaching the quarter-finals of the 2009 BWF World Championships in India. They were the first Indians to do this in mixed doubles. They also reached the finals of the BWF Super Series Masters Finals. This was another first for India in any badminton event.

In 2010, they reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships again. They also won the 2010 India Open Grand Prix Gold. In 2011, they reached the semi-finals of two Super Series Premier events.

Olympics and Future Plans

Jwala and Diju reached the quarter-finals of two Super Series events in 2012 before the 2012 Summer Olympics. At the London Olympics, they lost their matches and did not move past the group stage. After this, Jwala focused more on women's doubles. In 2016, Jwala announced she would return to mixed doubles. She said she missed winning titles with Diju.

Life Off the Court

Jwala Gutta was married to fellow badminton player Chetan Anand from 2005 to 2011. She later shared that she learned a lot from the marriage.

Jwala supports many social causes. These include helping women, fighting against tobacco, and promoting health and education. She has also taken part in campaigns like the Ice Bucket Challenge and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Jwala also helped launch a badminton program for school children called 'Shuttle Express'.

In 2013, Jwala made a small appearance in a song in a Telugu film called Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde. Jwala describes herself as an atheist. She is married to Tamil film actor Vishnu Vishal. They got engaged on her birthday in 2020 and married on 22 April 2021 in Hyderabad.

Jwala in the Spotlight

Jwala Gutta is often seen as one of India's most inspiring sportswomen. She is known for speaking her mind, which sometimes leads to discussions. But Jwala says these don't bother her. Her father taught her to stand up for what she believes is right. She feels she is targeted because she is outspoken.

Jwala has also spoken out against body shaming in sports. She believes that liking clothes or dressing up does not make someone less serious about their sport. She has appeared on magazine covers and works with various brands.

Standing Up for Herself

In 2013, a disagreement happened during an Indian Badminton League match. Jwala, as team captain, was involved in a discussion about a player replacement. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) later questioned her actions. They even suggested a ban on her.

Jwala refused to apologize, saying she had done nothing wrong. She felt she was being targeted for speaking up about issues, like the removal of the women's doubles event from the league. She also felt she was not supported by the national coach. Jwala said, "I love to play. No one on this earth can stop me from playing."

The Delhi High Court supported Jwala, allowing her to play in international tournaments. Many fans and other sports players also supported her. Eventually, the BAI dropped all charges against her. Jwala was very happy and said it was an honor to represent India.

Awards and Recognition

In 2011, the Indian Government gave Jwala Gutta the Arjuna Award. This is India's second-highest honor for sports achievements.

Career Highlights

BWF World Championships

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2011	Wembley Arena, London, England	Ashwini Ponnappa	Tian Qing Zhao Yunlei	14–21, 16–21	Bronze

Commonwealth Games

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2014	Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland	Ashwini Ponnappa	Vivian Kah Mun Hoo Woon Khe Wei	17–21, 21–23	Silver
2010	Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi, India	Ashwini Ponnappa	Shinta Mulia Sari Yao Lei	21–16, 21–19	Gold

Asian Championships

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2014	Gimcheon Indoor Stadium, Gimcheon, South Korea	Ashwini Ponnappa	Luo Ying Luo Yu	12–21, 7–21	Bronze

South Asian Games

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2016	Multipurpose Hall SAI-SAG Centre, Shillong, India	Ashwini Ponnappa	N. Sikki Reddy K. Maneesha	21–9, 21–17	Gold
2006	Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	Shruti Kurien	B. R. Meenakshi Aparna Balan	18–21, 23–21, 21–12	Gold
2004	Rodham Hall, Islamabad, Pakistan	Shruti Kurien	Fathima Nazneen Manjusha Kanwar	15–6, 15–3	Gold

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2006	Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	V. Diju	Thomas Kurien Aparna Balan	21–11, 21–13	Gold
2004	Rodham Hall, Islamabad, Pakistan	Jaseel P. Ismail	Marcos Bristow Manjusha Kanwar	15–6, 15–3	Gold

BWF Superseries

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2009	Superseries Finals	V. Diju	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	14–21, 18–21	Runner-up

     BWF Superseries Finals tournament

     BWF Superseries Premier tournament

     BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2015	Canada Open	Ashwini Ponnappa	Eefje Muskens Selena Piek	21–19, 21–16	Winner
2010	India Open	Ashwini Ponnappa	Shinta Mulia Sari Yao Lei	11–21, 21–9, 15–21	Runner-up
2008	Bulgarian Open	Shruti Kurien	Shendy Puspa Irawati Meiliana Jauhari	21–11, 21–19	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2010	India Open	V. Diju	Chayut Triyachart Yao Lei	23–21, 20–22, 21–7	Winner
2009	Chinese Taipei Open	V. Diju	Hendra Aprida Gunawan Vita Marissa	23–21, 21–18	Winner
2009	India Open	V. Diju	Flandy Limpele Vita Marissa	14–21, 17–21	Runner-up
2008	Bulgarian Open	V. Diju	Fran Kurniawan Shendy Puspa Irawati	15–21, 21–18, 21–19	Winner
2008	Bitburger Open	V. Diju	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	8–21, 21–17, 22–20	Winner

BWF International Challenge/Series/Satellite

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2008	Nepal International	Shruti Kurien	Anjali Kalita Jyotshna Polavarapu	21–6, 21–8	Winner
2007	Tata Open India International	Shruti Kurien	Jyotshna Polavarapu Aparna Balan	21–11, 21–8	Winner
2007	Pakistan International	Shruti Kurien	Renu Chandrika Hettiarachchige Thilini Jayasinghe	21–13, 21–14	Winner
2007	Cyprus International	Shruti Kurien	Kati Tolmoff Ragna Ingolfsdottir	21–12, 21–13	Winner
2006	India Satellite	Shruti Kurien	Jung Youn-kyung Kim Min-jung	18–21, 19–21	Runner-up
2006	Sri Lanka Satellite	Shruti Kurien	Haw Chiou Hwee Lim Yin Loo	21–15, 14–21, 22–20	Winner
2004	Syed Modi International	Shruti Kurien	Wong Mew Choo Anita Raj Kaur	15–5, 17–15	Winner
2004	Le Volant d'Or de Toulouse	Shruti Kurien	Anastasia Russkikh Petya Nedelcheva	11–15, 6–15	Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2008	Nepal International	V. Diju	J. B. S. Vidyadhar Shruti Kurien	21–12, 21–15	Winner
2007	Tata Open India International	V. Diju	Rupesh Kumar Aparna Balan	21–14, 21–16	Winner
2007	Cyprus International	Chetan Anand	Christian John Skovgaard Maria Kaaberbol Thorberg	21–14, 22–20	Winner
2006	Sri Lanka Satellite	Chetan Anand	Chan Peng Soon Haw Chiou Hwee	21–10, 15–21, 21–18	Winner
2005	Welsh International	V. Diju	Watson Briggs Imogen Bankier	12–15, 15–2, 15–9	Winner
2005	Jakarta Satellite	V. Diju	Trần Thanh Hải Ngô Hải Vân	15–1, 15–3	Winner
2001	India Satellite	J. B. S. Vidyadhar	Sandesh Chouta B. R. Meenakshi	15–10, 11–15, 15–9	Winner

     BWF International Challenge tournament

     BWF International Series tournament

BWF events

Result	Year	Tournament	Partner
Quarter-Finals	2009	BWF World Championships	V. Diju
Quarter-Finals	2010	BWF World Championships	V. Diju
Bronze Medal	2011	BWF World Championships	Ashwini Ponnappa
Bronze Medal	2014	Uber Cup	Women's Team
Quarter-Finals	2015	BWF World Championships	Ashwini Ponnappa
Bronze Medal	2016	Uber Cup	Women's Team

Others

Result	Year	Tournament	Partner
Bronze Medal	2006	Commonwealth Games	Mixed Team
Gold Medal	2010	Commonwealth Games	Ashwini Ponnappa
Silver Medal	2010	Commonwealth Games	Mixed Team
Bronze Medal	2014	Badminton Asia Championships	Ashwini Ponnappa
Silver Medal	2014	Commonwealth Games	Ashwini Ponnappa

See also

In Spanish: Jwala Gutta para niños