Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto placed last in Group C of the women’s doubles competition at the Olympics in Paris.?
Ashwini Ponnappa, an Indian badminton player, has sparked severe concerns regarding the financial help she received from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in the lead-up to the Olympics in Paris. A mainstay of Indian badminton for more than ten years, the doubles specialist voiced amazement and disbelief at the SAI’s assertion of major financial aid.
Did Ponnappa receive the full Rs. 1.5 crore?
A report outlining the financial assistance given to Indian athletes competing in the Olympics in Paris was made public by the SAI. The paper states that Ashwini was awarded ₹1,48,04,080 under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) and ₹4,50,000 under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
Ponnappa rejecting SAI financial support
Ponnappa, however, angrily denied getting any substantial personal financial support. She emphasized that the ₹1.5 crore that the SAI had cited had really been used for the national camp as a whole, and had not been designated for her explicitly. The 34-year-old also disclosed that, up until recently, she had been handling her profession on her own and paying for her personal trainer. This was prior to her enrollment in the TOPS program.
Ponnappa Expresses Shock
“I’m completely stunned… I don’t mind not receiving money, but it’s absurd to claim that I did. I haven’t received anything. If we’re talking about the national camp, then that ₹1.5 Crore is used for all the participants,” Ashwini told PTI. “I don’t have a specific coach. I’m covering the cost of my personal trainer myself. I haven’t accepted any funds from others. I managed on my own until November 2023. I was only included in TOPS after we qualified…”
Ashwini, a seasoned badminton player, has won a gold, silver, and bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and has represented India at the London and Rio Olympics alongside her former partner Jwala Gutta.
SAI’s Explanation
A source from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) attempted to explain the ₹1.48 crore expenditure, stating that it included costs for Ashwini’s travel, accommodation, meals, competition fees, and daily allowances for all the tournaments she participated in as part of the Indian team during the Paris Olympic cycle. The source clarified that this amount was allocated to the Badminton Association of India (BAI) under the ACTC scheme.
Ashwini’s partnership with N Sikki Reddy ended in August 2022, and she paired up with Tanisha Crasto in December of the same year. The new partnership began competing in international tournaments from January 2023.