Ashwini Ponnappa Machimanda (born 18 September 1989) is an Indian

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players pe ...

player who represents the country at the international badminton circuit in both the women's and mixed doubles disciplines. She had a successful partnership with

Jwala Gutta Jwala Gutta; family names traditionally precede personal names in Indian name#Telugu, Telugu naming customs (born 7 September 1983) is an Indian badminton player. Beginning in the late 1990s, she represented India at international events in bo ...

as the pair has won many medals in international events including a gold medal at the

Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exce ...

and bronze medals at the

Uber Cup The Uber Cup, sometimes called the World Women's Team Championships, is a major international badminton competition contested by women's national badminton teams. First held in 1956–1957 and contested at three year intervals, it has been contes ...

and the

Asian Badminton Championships The Badminton Asia Championships (formerly Asian Badminton Championships until 2006) is a tournament organized by governing body Badminton Asia to crown the best badminton players in Asia. The tournament started in 1962 and is held annually sinc ...

. They were consistently ranked among the top 20 in the

BWF World Ranking The BWF World Ranking is the official ranking of the Badminton World Federation for badminton players who participate in tournaments sanctioned by Badminton World Federation. It is used to determine the qualification for the World Championships a ...

reaching as high as no. 10. Ponnappa and Gutta also won the bronze medal at the

BWF World Championships The BWF World Championships, formerly known as IBF World Championships, and also known as the World Badminton Championships, is a badminton tournament sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF). The tournament is one of the most prestigious i ...

in 2011, becoming the first Indian pair and women and only the second overall to win a medal at the World Championships.

Early life

Ashwini Ponnappa was born on 18 September 1989 in Bangalore. She was educated at St. Francis Xavier Girls High School, Bangalore and at St. Mary's College, Hyderabad. Her father played hockey for India. However Ashwini preferred badminton over hockey and started training in badminton.

Career

In 2001, Ashwini Ponnappa won her first national title in 2004 in the sub-junior girls' doubles category. She also won the national title in sub-junior girls' doubles in 2005, and the Junior girls' doubles National title in 2006 and 2007. She won the gold medal in mixed doubles and the team events at the

South Asian Games The South Asian Games (SAG or SA Games), formerly known as the South Asian Federation Games (SAFG or SAF Games), is a quadrennial multi-sport event held among the athletes from South Asia. The governing body of these games is South Asia Olympic C ...

held in 2010. In the

2010 Commonwealth Games The 2010 Commonwealth Games (Hindi: 2010 राष्ट्रमण्डल खेल), officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Delhi 2010, was an international multi-sport event that was held in Delhi, India, f ...

, she won the gold medal in Women's Doubles event pairing with

, making history by winning the first gold medal for India in the event. Gutta and Ponnappa became household names after winning the medal in front of home crowd. Later on in 2011 they came up with one of their finest performances when she and Gutta etched their names in history books becoming the first Indian pair to ensure a medal at the World Badminton Championships. The pair defeated 12th seeds Vita Marrisa and

Nadya Melati Nadya Melati (born 3 December 1986) is an Indonesian badminton player specializing in doubles. With her partner Vita Marissa, she became the runner-up in 2011 Indonesia Open after losing to Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang. Achievements Southeast A ...

of Indonesia 17–21, 21–10, 21–17 to storm into the women's doubles semifinal before losing out to Chinese fifth seeds in the semis in London, thereby winning a bronze in the Badminton World Championship. She participated in the women's doubles at the

2012 London Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

. Ponnappa and Gutta lost their opening women's doubles match against the Japanese duo of

Mizuki Fujii is a badminton player from Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan and plays for the Renesas badminton club. Mizuki Fujii concentrates on doubles badminton. Most of her success has come with women's doubles partner Reika Kakiiwa. Together they reached the fin ...

and

Reika Kakiiwa is a Japanese badminton player from Renesas badminton club. Reika Kakiiwa has gained prominence in the badminton community because of her success in women's doubles. She has reached a career high ranking of third in the world with her partner Mi ...

. They then went on to beat much higher ranked Wen Hsing Cheng and Yu Chin Chien of Chinese Taipei 25–23, 16–21, 21–18 to register their first win in the group stages. Jwala and Ashwini missed out on a quarterfinal berth by a difference of just one point, even though they beat

Shinta Mulia Sari Shinta Mulia Sari (born 14 June 1988) is an Indonesian-born Singaporean former badminton player. She represented Singapore in the 2012 Summer Olympics, in the women's doubles with Yao Lei. She and Yao reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 Common ...

and Lei Yao of Singapore 21-16 21–15 in their last group B match, after tying with Japan and Taipei on the number of wins. Prior to India's final group game on Tuesday night, the World number five Japanese pair of Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa had shockingly lost to Chinese Taipei's Cheng Wen Hsing and Chien Yu Chin, ranked 10th, 19-21 11–21. India lodged a formal protest with the Games organizers to probe if the women's doubles badminton match involving Japan and Chinese Taipei was played in the right spirit, following the elimination of medal hopes Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa but no action was taken. Following the Olympic Games Jwala went to a temporary sabbatical from the game. Ponnappa then partnered Pradnya Gadre for a brief period of time in 2013 and then re-united with Jwala later in the year. At the

2014 Commonwealth Games The 2014 Commonwealth Games ( gd, Geamannan a' Cho-fhlaitheis 2014), officially known as the XX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Glasgow 2014, ( sco, Glesca 2014 or Glesga 2014; gd, Glaschu 2014), was an international multi-sport ev ...

, Ponnappa and Gutta won the silver medal in the women's doubles, losing to a Malaysian pair in the final. On 29 June 2015, playing with Jwala, they won the Canada Open women's doubles title by defeating the top-seeded Dutch pair of

Eefje Muskens Eefje Muskens (born 17 June 1989), is a Dutch badminton player who specializes in doubles. Her current partner for women's doubles is Selena Piek. She won the 2014 and 2015 editions of Dutch National Badminton Championships with Piek. In 2016, she ...

and

Selena Piek Selena Piek (born 30 September 1991) is a Dutch badminton player who specializes in doubles. Her current partner is Cheryl Seinen for women's doubles and Robin Tabeling for mixed doubles. She won the 2014 and 2015 editions of Dutch National Badmi ...

. She competed with Gutta at the

2016 Olympics ) , nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams) , athletes = 11,238 , events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines) , opening = 5 August 2016 , closing = 21 August 2016 , opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer , cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro ...

, but they lost all three of their group stage matches and therefore did not progress further. At the

2018 Commonwealth Games The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games and also known as Gold Coast 2018, was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that were held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, bet ...

, Ponnappa was part of the Indian team which won gold in the mixed team event, and won bronze with

N. Sikki Reddy Nelakurihi Sikki Reddy (born 18 August 1993) is an Indian badminton player who plays doubles and mixed doubles. In 2016, she won the Brazil and Russia Open Grand Prix title in the mixed doubles event partnered with Pranaav Chopra. She and Cho ...

in the women's doubles.

Personal life

On 24 December 2017, she married businessman and model Karan Medappa.

Achievements

BWF World Championships

''Women's doubles''

Commonwealth Games

''Women's doubles''

Asian Championships

''Women's doubles''

South Asian Games

''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

BWF World Tour (2 runners-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the

Badminton World Federation The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the international governing body for the sport of badminton recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was founded in 1934 as the International Badminton Federation (IBF) with nine member ...

(BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100. ''Women's doubles''

BWF Grand Prix (1 title, 3 runners-up)

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the

(BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017. ''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles'' : BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament : BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (1 title, 6 runners-up)

''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles'' :

BWF International Challenge The BWF International Challenge is a grade 3 and level 1 tournament part of Continental Circuit of BWF tournaments along with International Series (level 2) and Future Series (level 3), sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) since 2007. ...

tournament :

BWF International Series The BWF International Series is a grade 3 and level 2 tournament part of Continental Circuit of BWF tournaments along with International Challenge (level 1) and Future Series (level 3), sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) since 2007. ...

tournament :

BWF Future Series The BWF Future Series is a grade 3 and level 3 tournaments part of Continental Circuit of BWF tournaments along with International Challenge (level 1) and International Series (level 2), sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) since 2007. ...

tournament

Record against selected opponents

Women's doubles results with

against Super Series finalists, World Championships semifinalists, and Olympic quarterfinalists. *

Leanne Choo Nyuk Lian "Leanne" Choo (born 5 June 1991) is a badminton player from Australia. She is the reigning Oceania Champion in women's and mixed doubles. She represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics, alongside former women's doubles partner, ...

Renuga Veeran Renuga Veeran (born 20 June 1986) is an Australian badminton player. She has represented both Malaysia and Australia internationally as a badminton player. As part of the Australian Olympic Team,Du Jing Du Jing (; born 23 June 1984) is a former China, Chinese badminton player from Anshan, Liaoning. Career A doubles specialist, Du and her regular partner Yu Yang (badminton), Yu Yang have steadily emerged as one of the world's elite women's doub ...

& Yu Yang 0–1 *

Tang Jinhua Tang Jinhua (; born 8 January 1992) is a Chinese retired badminton player who competed at the highest level during the second decade of the 2000s, winning numerous women's doubles and occasional mixed doubles events with a variety of partners. S ...

Xia Huan Xia (Hsia in Wade–Giles) may refer to: Chinese history * Xia dynasty (c. 2070 – c. 1600 BC), the first orthodox dynasty in Chinese history * Xia (Sixteen Kingdoms) (407–431), a Xiongnu-led dynasty * Xia (617–621), a state founded by Dou Ji ...

0–1 *

Ma Jin Ma Jin (; born 7 May 1988) is a badminton player from China who specialises in women's and mixed doubles. She partnered Wang Xiaoli in women's doubles and excelled in the category until 2010 when both players are split after China failed to defe ...

Wang Xiaoli Wang Xiaoli (; born 24 June 1989) is a Chinese badminton player who is a doubles specialist. In 2012, she competed at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Career In 2005, she joined the Chinese national second team and officially became the f ...

0–2 *

Tian Qing Tian Qing (; born 19 August 1986) is a Chinese badminton player specializing in doubles. Career Tian Qing started to practice badminton with her father Tian Jianyi who also a badminton coach in Anhua Sports School at aged 7. In 1998, she move ...

Zhao Yunlei Zhao Yunlei (born 25 August 1986) is a mixed and women's doubles badminton player from China. She graduated with a BA from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She is the first and only badminton player to have ever won two gold medals ...

0–9 *

& Yu Yang 0–4 * Yang Wei &

Zhang Jiewen Zhang Jiewen (; born 4 January 1981) is a Chinese former badminton player. Career One of China's most successful women's doubles specialists, Zhang has won some thirty international titles, the vast majority of them in partnership with Yang ...

0–1 *

Luo Ying Luo Ying (; born 1991) is a Chinese badminton player. She specializes in doubles and partnered with her twin sister, Luo Yu. The twins competed at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics but did not advance to the knock-out stage after placing third in the ...

Luo Yu Luo Yu (; born 11 January 1991) is a Chinese badminton player who specializes in doubles. Together with her twin sister, Luo Ying, they competed in the international badminton, and were ranked as World number 1 on 10 March 2016. The twins partici ...

0–4 *

Tang Yuanting Tang Yuanting (; born 2 August 1994) is a Chinese badminton player specializing in doubles. She is a women's doubles Asian Champion and East Asian Games gold medalist. Tang was part of the China winning team in a Sudirman Cup, Uber Cup, Asia Te ...

0–1 *

Cheng Wen-hsing Cheng Wen-hsing (; born 24 February 1982) is a Taiwanese former badminton player. She is now works as German national team coach. Career Cheng competed for Chinese Taipei in the 2004 Olympics in the women's doubles with partner Chien Yu-chin. ...

Chien Yu-chin Chien Yu-chin (; born 24 October 1982) is a Taiwanese former badminton player. Summer Olympics Chien competed for Chinese Taipei in the 2004 Olympics in the women's doubles with partner Cheng Wen-hsing. They defeated Helen Nichol and Charmai ...

2–2 *

Christinna Pedersen Christinna Pedersen (born 12 May 1986) is a Danish badminton player. Career Christinna Pedersen is a right-handed doubles specialist. From 2008 onwards, Pedersen paired with Joachim Fischer Nielsen in mixed doubles. The pair gained two Europ ...

Kamilla Rytter Juhl Kamilla Rytter Juhl (born 23 November 1983) is a retired Danish badminton player. Juhl is an Olympic silver medalist, World Championship gold medalist and seven times European champion as well. Career Rytter Juhl played as a left-handed doubl ...

0–2 *

Poon Lok Yan Isis Poon Lok Yan (, born 22 August 1991) is a badminton player from Hong Kong. She competed at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics in women's doubles event. Together with Tse Ying Suet, she has received her best competitive results in Women's ...

Tse Ying Suet Tse Ying Suet (, born 9 November 1991) is a Hong Kong badminton player. She competed at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics in the women's doubles event (with Poon Lok Yan). In 2012, she won the women's doubles title at the Japan Open tournament w ...

1–1 *

Vita Marissa Vita Marissa (born 4 January 1981) is an Indonesian retired badminton player. Career Marissa competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in mixed doubles with partner Nova Widianto. They had a bye in the first round and defeated Rober ...

2–1 *

1–3 *

Miyuki Maeda is a Japanese international badminton player from the Renesas badminton club and later affiliated with Saishunkan team. She participated at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and also in three Asian Games editions from 2006 to 2014. Career Maed ...

Satoko Suetsuna is a badminton player from Japan. Born in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, she joined Renesas badminton club and later affiliated with Saishunkan team. She was a bronze medalist at the 2011 BWF World Championships with her partner Miyuki Maeda. Career ...

1–4 *

Shizuka Matsuo is a Japanese badminton player. Born in Osaka, Matsuo once affiliated with Sanyo Electric and Panasonic badminton team, and after that joining the NTT East team in 2013. She is currently works as a doubles coach in NTT East. Matsuo was a part of t ...

Mami Naito is a Japanese badminton player from the Yonex team, who competed at the 2014 Asian Games. She educated physical education at the Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo. Her older brother, Yusuke Naito is a badminton coach. Naito and her women's ...

0–3 *

Misaki Matsutomo is a Japanese badminton player who is a doubles specialist. She won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic women's doubles alongside Ayaka Takahashi. Despite playing doubles, she was also a finalist in girls' singles at the 2010 BWF World J ...

Ayaka Takahashi is a retired Japanese badminton player who was affiliated with Unisys badminton team. She is an Olympic Games gold medalist, two-time Asian Champion, two-time Asian Games silver medalist, and World Championship bronze medalist. Playing for the ...

0–2 * Ha Jung-eun & Kim Min-jung 0–3 * Lee Hyo-jung & Kim Min-jung 0–1 *

Jung Kyung-eun Jung Kyung-eun (Hangul: 정경은; or ; born 20 March 1990) is a South Korean professional badminton player. She was the 2016 Summer Olympics bronze medalist in the women's doubles event. Career Jung Kyung-eun began her career competing in s ...

Kim Ha-na Kim Ha-na (Hangul: 김하나; or ; born 27 December 1989) is a South Korean badminton player. She was the mixed doubles gold medalist at the 2013 Asian Championships, and was part of the national team that won the Sudirman Cup in 2017. Kim wo ...

1–2 *

Chin Eei Hui Chin Eei Hui (; Hakka Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chhìn Ngì-fui; born 18 June 1982) is a former badminton player from Malaysia who plays in both women's and mixed doubles. She worked as a coach for Malaysia's national women's doubles players of which th ...

Wong Pei Tty Wong Pei Tty (, born 11 November 1981) is a former doubles badminton player from Malaysia. Currently, she works as an assistant coach for Malaysia women's double national team. Career Wong competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in ...

0–5 *

2–2 *

Yao Lei Yao Lei (born 24 February 1990) is a Chinese-born Singaporean former badminton player. Early life In 2003, as a 13-year-old Yao emigrated to Singapore under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme. Her parents Yao Yiping and Gu Xiaojing were both ...

2–4 *

Duanganong Aroonkesorn Duanganong Aroonkesorn ( th, ดวงอนงค์ อรุณเกษร; born 6 February 1984) is an internationally elite badminton player from Thailand. She competed at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Asian Games. Aroonkesorn is a women's doubles ...

Kunchala Voravichitchaikul Kunchala Voravichitchaikul ( th, กุลชลา วรวิจิตรชัยกุล; born 14 November 1984) is an internationally elite badminton player from Thailand. She competed at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Asian Games. Kunchala Vorav ...

2–0 *

Puttita Supajirakul Puttita Supajirakul (; born 29 March 1996) is a Thai badminton player who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was part of Thailand's gold medals-winning team at the 2015, 2017 and 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the ...

Sapsiree Taerattanachai Sapsiree Taerattanachai (; ; born 18 April 1992) is a Thai badminton player. She claimed titles in the mixed doubles with Dechapol Puavaranukroh at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games and at the 2021 World Championships. Taerattanachai and Puavaranuk ...

2–0

References

External links