Quotes from Jwala Gutta

So when people used to call me 'chinki' I thought that okay maybe my mother is Chinese so they are calling me that. It was only in my 20s, when I travelled to the north-east that I realised that it was racist and that the north-easterners were called this and they were not considered Indians just because of the way they look.

I feel we need more quality badminton players; I will put in the best efforts to inculcate discipline in those who are keen to make a mark both in sports and in the society.

Failure and triumphs are parts of life.

Physically, when you are fit, mentally you are more alert and confident.

I don't know many footballers except Maradona and Messi.

The ultimate goal is Olympics.

Then, girls have to deal with a degree of unfair scrutiny about their life outside sports. If we have good hair or look good, we are called glamorous and it is presumed that we are not focused on sports. Nowadays, even the sportsmen are glamorous, good-looking, but they never face such scrutiny.

Doubles does not have adequate support, promotion and sponsorship and budding shuttlers are more keen to take up singles.

There is a lot of discrimination. Consider this: whenever a badminton squad is sent for an international meet, there are usually 10 boys and 3-4 girls. Why is it like this? Why can't we send an equal number of boys and girls?

Hollywood's Me Too campaign was massive. Do you think only those women who were harassed or sexually exploited were a part of the campaign? No. Everyone was a part of it, because until and unless you unite for a cause like this, nothing will change.

Why are foreign coaches not staying? There is internal politics and that is the reason why foreign coaches leave without completing their tenures. The reason is they don't get the acknowledgement and feel disrespected, not just from the players but from the establishment, and I am an eyewitness to it.

Before I have attended camps at many places such as Bangalore, Jalandhar, and after 2006 it has only been happening at the Gopichand academy in Hyderabad. I had no problems since I live there, but it is not fair. Why camps only in Hyderabad?

It is not fair; we live in such a hypocritical society where only film stars are supposed to dress up. It is almost like the shabbier you look, the more focused you are in your game.

Unlike badminton playing major nations of the world, we never had a specialist doubles coach and so the discipline remained neglected.

I love dressing up and I love looking good.

I take it as a compliment now that I look different. I think l look okay.

Winning a title in Olympic year is never easy.

I am playing the Olympics for my country. I know how hard I worked.

I wanted to do whatever I can for Olympics. I just want to give my best shot.

Being bold is being fearless and having an opinion about issues.

The outside world hardly knows me and thinks Jwala is a celebrity.

I can't define it, but being in a relationship certainly helps individuals become better versions of themselves.

In China or in the U.S., the government program takes over promising sporting talent at a very early age and then financially secures their life. They get educated.

Being a doubles player, without any support, we don't have any godfathers in doubles.