Ashwini focussing on being fit and ready for Olympic qualification

Eyeing an Olympic berth at the 2020 Tokyo Games, India's doubles specialist Ashwini Ponappa on Saturday said she is working on her fitness and strength to be in good shape for the upcoming season.

The Olympic qualification period in badminton is between April 29, 2019 and April 26, 2020 with the ranking list published on April 30 to be used to decide the spots.

Ashwini, a 'Red Bull' athlete, is aware that the road to Olympic qualification will be a tough one as she and her women's doubles partner N Sikki Reddy will have to rack up ranking points ahead of the April 30 deadline.

"Focus would be on getting my body strong and fit and working more on basic drills and getting that strong. Since we have just a few months left we will also be playing more tournaments and being fit and ready would be important," Ashwini told PTI.

Ashwini and Sikki, ranked 24th in the world, had a dismal run this season with the pair faltering in the opening round 13 times in 20 tournaments and exiting from the