It will be tough but doesn't stop us from giving our best: Ashwini Ponnappa on Sudirman Cup

As the Sudirman Cup, the biennial World Team Championships, gets under way on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, 10th ranked India will be up against higher-ranked nations in China (first) and Indonesia (seventh) in Group 1A.

One Indian shuttler will be keen to make a mark, especially after the invaluable experience she gained at the Axiata Cup team event in March-April. As part of the All Stars Asian team in the $1 million tournament that finished third, doubles specialist Ashwini Ponnappa said that the exposure should count in the Sudirman Cup.

Ashwini and her mixed doubles partner Tarun Kona were the only Indians in the Axiata Cup. "Most of the countries use Axiata Cup as a warm-up team event for the Sudirman Cup," Ashwini told dna before leaving for Kuala Lumpur. "Playing in that tournament does help. In mixed doubles, we got to play quite a few of the top players in the world. It was good for us. The atmosphere was good. It would have been better had the
Indian team participated in the Axiata Cup. Playing there would have helped the team as a whole."

Ashwini was hopeful of India participating as a team in that tournament the next year. "I have not had a chance to suggest this to the Badminton Association of India. Hopefully our association puts forward an India entry. Am not sure how it is to get into the Axiata Cup. We were part of the mixed team event and they (organisers) got in touch with us. Hopefully the next time, India is included in it."

The 23-year-old Ashwini, who along with Kona is ranked 31st in the world in mixed doubles and 50th in women's doubles along with Pradnya Gadre, said that the "Indian team has been working hard in Hyderabad for the team championships. The preparation has been good so far.

"It will be difficult. Defending champions China have World No. 1 players in women's doubles (Wang Xioali/ Yu Yang) as well as mixed doubles (Xu Chen/Ma Jin). But that doesn't stop us from going out there and give our heart out and trying to win the matches," Ashwini said.

Playing for herself and her doubles partner for most part of the year in the international circuit, representing the country in a team is a different experience, Ashwini admitted. "When you are playing (in Sudirman Cup), you don't think about yourself. You think about the fact that the team relies on you. Depending on how you perform, it will definitely affect the team. If you lose, the entire team has to pay for it as well. You don't play for yourself, you play for the team."

This is Ashwini's third Sudirman Cup appearance. "The experience has been quite good. First time (2009) when I went, I was very young. I was a reserve player and did not get to play a match. The second time (2011), it was tough but at the same time played really well. It was also fun," Ashwini said.

Ashwini could be playing crucial roles in women's and mixed doubles, though chief national coach Pullela Gopichand did not reveal the doubles combinations that will be in action. The focus will be on her, which means she could be under pressure too. "Once we go there, we will probably decide the order, who will play which event. We have two women's doubles and two mixed doubles pairs in the team. Let's see how it goes.

"You don't have as much pressure when you play on the tour as you are playing for the team. But it can be fun also. You have the entire team supporting you as well. Every single match is important. All of us make sure we win our matches."
Ashwini will be participating in the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier (June 10-16) and Singapore Open (Super Series) (June 18-23) following the Sudirman Cup.

"I've been training hard. We don't have time to take it easy. We have quite a few tournaments coming up. There is not much time to relax. Still, I got to go home to my native place for two days in Coorg after the India Open."