Rio Olympics 2016: Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa ousted after 2nd successive loss

Rio de Janeiro: The experienced Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were eliminated from the Rio Olympics 2016 women’s doubles event on Friday after losing their second successive group A clash. In a rollercoaster game against the Dutch team of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek, Jwala and Ashwini went down 16-21, 21-16 17-21 in a 48-minute clash. [caption id=“attachment_2952742” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Jwala Gutta (left) and Ashwini Ponnappa. AP[/caption] Lying second from bottom in the group standings, Jwala and Ashwini will have just pride to play for when they take on Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Indonesia in their final group clash. The Indonesians are also winless so far and are lying bottom of the heap. The Indians, who were distinctly uncoordinated in their opening loss to Japan, gave a better account of themselves in Friday’s match but failed to go for the kill. The opening game was lost in merely 19 minutes but far from being bogged down, Jwala and Ashwini fought back to grab the second with the former being particularly impressive with her strokeplay close to the net. However, the momentum gained in that game could not take them past the finishing line as Muskens and Piek bounced back to clinch the match. Ashwini proved to be the weak link in the decider and Muskens and Piek did not miss any opportunity to attack her on the back court.