Jwala Gutta, the Former Badminton player, on Tuesday opened up about ‘mental harassment’. In a series of tweets, Jwala Gutta spoke against the selection bias in the national team against her despite her consistent performances. She also joined #metoo movement which has taken the nation by storm.
Jwala Gutta wrote on her Twitter, “Maybe I should talk about the mental harassment I had to go through…#metoo,” she said. “Since 2006, since this person became the chief, he threw me out of national team inspite of me being a national champion. The latest was when I returned from Rio. I was out of national team again. One of the reasons I stopped playing! Since 2006…till 2016…have been thrown out of the team again and again and again..inspite of my performances…2009 I was back in the team when I was world no.9.,” she said. “So when this person couldn’t get through to me…he threatened my partners, harassed them, made sure to isolate me in every manner. Even after Rio, the one who I was gonna play mixed with was threatened. And I was just thrown out of the team. Maybe I should talk about the mental harassment I had to go through… #metoo”
35-year old Jwala Gutta accused the unnamed chief selector of harassing and the threatening players for partnering with her in a bid to further isolate her.
Jwala Gutta has won four Commonwealth Games medals in her career, including a gold at Delhi 2010. She is most successful doubles specialist from the India, and she has represented the country at the international circuit since the late 1990s till 2017.She has been credited to have brought recognition for doubles badminton in India.
Jwala Gutta was awarded the Arjuna Award, India’s second highest sporting award for her achievements. She was married to badminton player Chetan Anand from 2005-2011.
Maybe I should talk about the mental harassment I had to go through… #metoo
— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) October 9, 2018
So when this person couldn’t get through to me…he threatened my partners harassed them…made sure to isolate me in every manner…even after Rio…the one who I was gonna play mixed with was threatened..and I was just thrown out of the team..
— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) October 9, 2018