Pune: Though it started as an experiment for doubles specialist Ashwini Ponappa, the Karnataka shuttler is hopeful of her newly-formed partnership with Russian men’s player Vladimir Ivanov.
For Ponappa, the idea struck after her stint in the Indian Badminton League. “You can say that the IBL experience of playing with Joachim Fischer has been the best for me so far. I learnt a lot while playing with Joachim. It made me open up to the idea of having a foreign partner for international meets,” Ashwini said.