Happy Birthday Jwala Gutta! Some Lesser-Known Facts About the Star Indian Badminton Player

Jwala Gutta, the Indian badminton woman player, is celebrating her birthday on Saturday, September 7. The star Indian shuttler turned 36 today. Gutta has been a popular face among women badminton players in India. Gutta, who has represented India in many worldwide badminton tournaments, started playing badminton since the age of four. Gutta has been credited for bringing multiple recognitions for India in doubles badminton. Between her active years of play from 2007 to 2017, the left-handed shuttler bagged many medals in doubles’ category in World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asia Championships and South Asian Games. Vivek Oberoi Shares Meme on Exit Poll 2019 Featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jwala Gutta Calls it Absurd. 

The 5 foot 9-inch tall sportswoman has been a fourteen-time National champion. Her association with Ashwini Ponnappa in women's doubles and V. Diju in mixed doubles brought many laurels for the country. In 2012 London Olympics, Jwala became the first Indian shuttler to qualify for two events in Olympics. She qualied for women's doubles with Ponnappa and mixed doubles with V Diju. As Gutta celebrates her birthday on Saturday, we look at some lesser-known facts about the Indian shuttler. Bigg Boss Telugu: Jwala Gutta Clears the Air on Rumours of Her Participation in the Reality TV Show. 

1. Jwala Gutta's mother Yelan Gutta is of Chinese descent. She moved to India in 1977.
2. Jwala's father Kranti Gutta, belongs to a family of freedom fighters and Leftists. He is of Telugu origin.
3. Jwala was interested in playing tennis in her childhood but moved to badminton at the insistence of her mother.
4. Gutta was awarded prestigious Arjuna Award in 2011 by Indian government.
5. She married Indian badminton player Chetan Anand in July 2005. However, the couple got separated in June 2011 after nearly six years of marriage.

Gutta has been often regarded as one of the most inspirational sportswomen of India. With an aggressive playing style in badminton, she has a great liking for the front court and intense ability to play deceptive strokes. In May 2017, she informed that she was taking a break from the sport and considering retirement while eyeing a coaching role in Badminton Association of India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2019 09:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).