Missing Diju, mixed doubles weak link in Sudirman Cup: Jwala

Jwala said India lacks experience in mixed doubles category and it would show when the tournament gets underway in Quingdao, China on Sunday.

"I am missing Diju. Without Diju, Sudirman Cup seems incomplete. We will surely miss him. The mixed doubles category is our weak link because we lack experience," Jwala told PTI.
In the absence of Diju, India will have Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan and Pranav Chopra and Prajakta Sawant to choose from.

"I haven't practised in the camp for the mixed doubles event so I won't be playing but we have two good pairs. They have been playing for last four years. The only thing they lack is international exposure and I hope they fare well for India," Jwala said.

Asked what would be India's chances in the Sudirman Cup, the Hyderabadi said it is difficult to say at the moment.

"They (Chinese Taipei and Thailand) are not the toughest teams but at the same time we can't underestimate them. It would be very important to pull one of the doubles matches. If we can top the group and play the quarterfinals, it would be great," Jwala said.

"We did well in last edition and we are in the top 12 teams, which is a great achievement. We have to be positive and think about pulling out one match at a time and unite as a team and everything is possible," she added.

India, promoted to group B in the last edition in 2009 for the first time since the Sudirman Cup started in 1989, will open their campaign against Chinese Taipei on Sunday.