KCR writes to PM Modi, calls for Jwala Gutta to be included in TOP scheme

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, also known as KCR, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, urging him to include the names of top shuttler Jwala Gutta and her doubles partner, Ashwini Ponnappa in the 'Target Olympic Podium' (TOP) scheme.

"As you are aware, Jwala Gutta, who currently ranks 13th in the world has brought laurels to the country on many occasions by winning tournaments at the international level. She is the first ever Indian woman to have won a medal at the World Championship and the only Indian in the Indian history of Olympics to qualify for two events. She also bagged a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and silver medal in 2014. She had recently won Canada Open in June 2015, which was appreciated by the President and your good self," his letter to the Prime Minister read.

"I have been informed that the Government of India has formulated a scheme called 'Target Olympic Podium' (TOP) to support potential medal winners running to the Rio Olympics in 2016 by providing funding and other support. It is understood that Jwala Gutta and her partner, Ashwini Ponnappa have not been included in the TOP scheme. In the above backdrop, I would like to request you to issue suitable instructions to the concerned to include this pair of players, that is, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa in the TOP scheme at the earliest, as I believe they are a definite medal winning prospects for India," the letter added.

Jwala and Ashwini had earlier won the Canada Open doubles title after upstaging the top-seeded Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek in Calgary.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist pair triumphed 21-19, 21-16.