BAI Panel Recommended Life Ban for Badminton Player Jwala Gutta

The Disciplinary Committee of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on 5 October 2013 recommended a life-ban on Jwala Gutta for her role in delaying the Indian Badminton League (IBL) fixture between Delhi Smashers and Banga Beats in Bangalore on 25 August 2013.

Jwala Gutta was served a show-cause notice on 4 September 2013 after the matter was discussed in the Badminton Association of India’s general body meeting in Mumbai on 31 August 2013.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) went by tournament referee Girish Natu’s report in which he held Jwala Gutta responsible for coercing her team members for uncalled for indiscipline, for causing  harm to the spirit and interest of the tournament, for failing to maintain the stature of the tournament, for imposing unwarranted hardship to the TV viewers, spectators and all other concerned, besides preventing and compelling teammate B. Sai Praneeth from playing the opening match of the tie.

About Jwala Gutta

• Jwala Gutta was born on 7 September 1983 in Wardha, Maharashtra and brought up in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh to a Telugu Indian father and a Chinese mother.

• Jwala Gutta is a left-handed Indian badminton player who has won the National Badminton Championships thirteen times. She is a doubles badminton player who has partnered with Shruti Kurien and later Ashwini Ponnappa.

• Jwala Gutta won the gold medal at the Commonwealth games in 2010, in the women's doubles badminton event partnering with Ashwini Ponnappa.

• Jwala Gutta selected for Arjuna Award for the year 2011.