Jwala still nursing injury but hopes to play tomorrow

Mumbai: Krissh Delhi Smashers` icon player Jwala Gutta, who missed her team`s Indian Badminton League tie against Mumbai Masters, is yet to recover from a shoulder injury but the ace doubles shuttler is hopeful of playing against Awadhe Warriors on Thursday.

"My shoulder is much better than what it was in Lucknow. It is still not 100 per cent healed. My physio suggested that I rest (against Mumbai) also. There is a little pain, there is little soreness but it`s better," Jwala told reporters last night after Mumbai Masters thrashed Delhi Smashers 4-1. "But I am hopeful of playing the next match. I wanted to play today (against Mumbai). The stadium was fantastic. The atmosphere here is amazing. A lot of my friends were here. I wanted to play really but sometimes you can`t help it," she said. Jwala said playing mixed doubles with foreign teammates was not difficult what if their styles are different. "Koo (Kien Keat) understands the game of doubles. It is very important to really understand the game of doubles because technically when you think about doubles, it is a bit different from singles. As long as he understands the game of doubles and I understand it, there is not much (difference). "But the way they play and the way we play, there is a bit of difference. The way they move, the footwork, is different. I play a different game. I am more of a stroke player. They are coming straight from the World Championship so we hardly got any time to practice together. But now we have been practicing and we have been playing, so it`s better now," Jwala said. Asked if she would partner a foreign player for the Super Series, the womens doubles gold medallist of 2010 Commonwealth Games replied in the negative. "The thing in badminton is that you don`t have individual points system, like how you have it in tennis. That is a major drawback and that is the reason we hesitate to play with foreigners. I got a lot of offers to play with foreign players but eventually in Commonwealth Games or Asian Games, you represent your country and you can`t really play with the other pair," Jwala said. "Your points are not really accounted for. There are no individual points. It becomes a little difficult. Otherwise, I probably have to sacrifice playing in the Commonwealth Games or Asian Games which is very important for the country, so I cannot do that." She praised her teammate Prajakta Sawant and said: "Prajakta has been playing really well. She is playing fantastic." "I won`t say I am surprised but I am really glad to see the way she is playing." PTI