Ashwini Ponnappa is an Indian shuttler who represents India in doubles events. At the Commonwealth Games 2010, she and Jwala Gutta won the gold medal for India in the women’s doubles event, becoming the first pair from India to accomplish this feat. Her highest ranking was 10 in the women’s doubles alongside Gutta, while her best ranking in mixed doubles was 19, with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
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Born on September 18, 1989, in Bangalore, Karnataka, Ashwini Ponnappa is the daughter of Cauvery Ponnappa and MA Ponnappa. Her family boasts a strong sports background, with her father representing India in hockey and her uncle playing cricket for Karnataka at the state level. However, Ashwini’s preference was Badminton over any other sport. At the age of eight, Ashwini embarked on her journey towards professional badminton by enrolling at an academy, initiating a remarkable journey in the sport.
Ashwini Ponnappa secured her inaugural national title in 2004, emerging victorious in the sub-junior girls’ doubles category. Her winning streak continued with another sub-junior girls’ doubles national title in 2005, followed by triumphs in the junior girls’ doubles category in both 2006 and 2007.
In 2010, Ashwini Ponnappa teamed up with Valiyaveetil Diju to clinch gold in mixed doubles and at the South Asian Games. During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Ponnappa who teamed up with Jwala Gutta made history by securing the first gold medal for India in the women’s doubles event. The duo gained nationwide fame after their victory in front of a home audience as India hosted the 2010 games.
In 2011, Ponnappa and Gutta became the first Indian pair to guarantee a medal and won the bronze medal at the BWF World Championships after losing to Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the pair earned a silver medal in the women’s doubles, succumbing to a Malaysian team in the final. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Ponnappa was a member of the Indian squad that claimed gold in the mixed team event, and she captured bronze alongside N. Sikki Reddy in the women’s doubles.
Ashwini then played a significant role in India’s silver medal victory at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in the mixed team event. At the India International 2022 event, she claimed the gold medal in the mixed doubles event where she partnered K. Sai Pratheek to defeat Rohan Kapoor and N. Sikki Reddy by 21-16, 11-21, 21-18.
For her accomplishments in the sport of Badminton, she received the Arjuna Award, the second-greatest sporting award of India, in 2012.
| Event | Partner | Opponent | Score |
Medal |
| India International 2022 | K. Sai Pratheek | Rohan Kapoor
N. Sikki Reddy |
21–16, 11–21, 21–18 | Gold |
| Denmark Masters 2021 | N. Sikki Reddy | Amalie Magelund and Freja Ravn | 21-15, 19-21, 14-21 | Silver |
| Maldives International 2019 | N. Sikki Reddy | Sayaka Hobara and Natsuki Sone | 10–21, 21–17, 12–21 | Silver |
| Syed Modi International 2019 | B. Sumeeth Reddy | N. Sikki Reddy and Pranav Chopra | 20–22, 10–21 | Silver |
| Syed Modi International 2019 | N. Sikki Reddy | Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl | 16–21, 18–21 | Silver |
| Commonwealth Games 2018 | N. Sikki Reddy | Setyana Mapasa and Gronya Somerville | 21–19, 21–19 | Bronze |
| Canada Open 2015 | Jwala Gutta | Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek | 21–19, 21–16 | Gold |
| Commonwealth Games 2014 | Jwala Gutta | Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei | 17–21, 21–23 | Silver |
| BWF World Championships 2011 | Jwala Gutta | Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei | 14–21, 16–21 | Bronze |
| Commonwealth Games 2010 | Jwala Gutta | Shinta Mulia Sari and Yao Lei | 21–16, 21–19 | Gold |
Ashwini Ponnappa in action with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (Image Credits - Instagram/ @p9ashwini)
Ashwini Ponnappa in action (Image Credits - Instagram/ @p9ashwini)
Ashwini Ponnappa with Sai Pratheek (Image Credits - Instagram/ @p9ashwini)
Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa in a file photo (Image Credits - BWF)
