Indian badminton stalwart Ashwini Ponnappa broke down in tears on Tuesday as she announced her retirement from the Olympic competition following an early exit from the Paris 2024 Games. Ashwini and her partner, Tanisha Crasto, suffered their third consecutive loss in the women's doubles competition, falling to Australia’s Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu with scores of 15-21, 10-21. This defeat concluded their campaign, as they had lost all three of their group matches.
"This will be my last Olympics," the 34-year-old Ashwini said, her voice choked with emotion. She was competing in her third Olympic Games and expressed the emotional and mental toll of the sport. "It takes a toll emotionally and mentally; I can't go through this again. It's not easy; you can handle it better when you're younger. Having played for so long, I can't take it anymore," she added, struggling to hold back tears.
Ashwini’s illustrious career began with her first national title in 2001 and saw her become a key figure in Indian badminton. She formed a formidable women's doubles pair with Jwala Gutta, with whom she achieved significant milestones, including gold at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Uber Cup in 2014 and 2016, as well as the Asian Championships in 2014. Their most notable achievement was securing a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships, making them the first Indian pair to win a medal at this prestigious event. The Jwala-Ashwini duo consistently ranked among the top 20 in the world, reaching a peak ranking of 10th.
Ashwini and Jwala competed together in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics but did not advance beyond the initial stages. Reflecting on her career, Ashwini said, "We wanted to get a win today. Although we hoped for a different and better outcome, the biggest takeaway for Tanisha and me is the journey to the Olympics. It hasn't been easy."
Tanisha Crasto, visibly emotional, expressed her gratitude towards Ashwini. "She [Ashwini] has been my biggest support here. We wanted a better result and to hold our heads high. She motivated me every time," Tanisha said, fighting back tears.
As Ashwini Ponnappa bids farewell to Olympic badminton, her legacy as one of India's most accomplished players is firmly established, with a career marked by groundbreaking achievements and inspiring performances.
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