Ashwini not to play women's doubles in Denmark

Ashwini Ponnappa (R) seen here with doubles partner Jwala Gutta (L)

Odense (Denmark), Oct 15 (IANS): Bangalore shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa will not be playing in the women’s doubles at the Denmark Open Super Series Premier and will concentrate only on the mixed doubles.

“I am playing only mixed doubles here in Denmark,” Ashwini told IANS from Denmark.

Ashwini will be partnering Kerala shuttler Tarun Kona in the mixed doubles here and in the French Open next week.

Ashwini and Tarun will be up against Indonesian combo of Markis Kido and Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth in first round action Tuesday.

Ashwini, who won the World Championships bronze medal last year in London with Jwala Gutta, recently decided to partner Maharashtra player Pradnya Gadre as Jwala is taking a sabbatical post-London Olympics.

“I will be partnering Pradnya in the next few tournaments but not here,” Ashwini said.

Nashik’s Pradnya had been partnering statemate Prajakta Sawant in women’s doubles but they decided to split last month.

Ashwini and Pradnya will be training for one month after which they will play in China, Hong Kong and Macau in November.