Born on September 18, 1989, Ashwini Ponnappa is an Indian badminton player who represents the country at the international badminton circuit in both the women's doubles and mixed doubles.

Ashwini Ponnappa struck a successful partnership with Jwala Gutta as the pair won many medals in international events including a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and bronze medals at the Uber Cup and the Asian Badminton Championships.

Jwala-Ashwini, were consistently ranked among the top 20 in the BWF World Ranking reaching as high as no. 10. Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta also won the bronze medal at the BWF World Championships in 2011, becoming the first Indian pair and women and only the second overall to win a medal at the World Championships.

Ashwini Ponnappa's father played hockey for India. However, Ashwini preferred badminton over hockey and started training in badminton. She completed her schooling from St. Francis Xavier's Girl's High School, Bengaluru and moved to Hyderabad to pursue her Bachelor's degree.

A lesser known fact about Ashwini Ponnappa is that the badminton star's uncle was a state-level cricketer.

Ashwini Ponnappa and Karan Medappa go way back. They were friends long before they began dating. Ashwini shared this throwback with Karan (left) and a mutual friend.

In picture: Ashwini Ponnappa and husband Karan Medappa are all smiles in this lovely throwback picture

On October 30, 2017, Ashwini Ponnappa shared this picture of her engagement to Karan Medappa. That million-dollar smile on Ashwini Ponnappa's face says it all!

On Christmas Eve - December 24, 2017, Ashwini Ponappa tied the knot with Karan Medappa in Coorg, Karnataka. The marriage rituals were held as per the Kodava tradition. The people from Coorg are called Kodavas.

Ashwini Ponnappa and Karan Medappa's wedding ceremony was attended by most of their close family and friends. Among the attendees were tennis player Rohan Bopanna and squash player Joshna Chinnappa.

Karan Medappa is a model as well as a businessman by profession. He is the founder of a sports marketing PR and events company called Blue Degree Advisors.

Ashwini Ponnappa is an avid book reader and has stated that Nicholas Sparks is her favourite author. Besides books, Ashwini Ponnappa is also a major movie buff. Ashwini's favourite film is the Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley starrer Begin Again.

Ashwini Ponnappa is a two-time bronze medallist at Uber Cup.

At the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon, Ashwini Ponnappa won a bronze medal.

Ashwini Ponnappa is a two-time gold medallist, 2-time silver medallist and bronze medallist at Commonwealth Games.

In 2011, Ashwini Ponnappa won the bronze medal at the World Championships.

A power-packed picture of Indian badminton stalwarts! In this picture, Ashwini Ponnappa is enjoying a night-out with PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, Ponnappa wrote, #throwback to a fun night with these ladies

In picture: Ashwini Ponnappa looks dazzling in a short black dress and a scarf on a dinner party with friends.

Another picture of Ashwini Ponnappa enjoying a night-out with her girls. She captioned this picture as, 'All time Favourites'

Ashwini Ponnappa shared this picture of herself with a friend, she wrote, Finally caught up with this one

Ashwini Ponnappa loves to hand out with her girl gang on holidays, she captioned this picture with a few friends as, 'My Goldspot lot'

Ashwini Ponnappa shared this picture on a friend's birthday, she wrote, Little miss b,day girl @shravyavarma,hope you have a super aww..some day and year

Ashwini Ponnappa shared this picture on a friend's birthday, she wrote, 'Happy birthday Partner @satwiksairaj'

Ashwini Ponnappa has always been fond of dogs, she captioned this picture, #throwback From my day at the best dog home/shelter/farm ever #voiceofstraydogs @vosd.in, Love how every single dog that goes there,no matter what shape,size,injury or disability they may have,each and every one of them is given a home and no dog is put to sleep.They are given a chance to lead a happy,healthy life I love how happy the dogs there are!!Its just such an amazing place!!#voiceofstraydogs is most definitely my happy place #happyplace #bestplace

It isn't the slightest bit easy to run a place which is a home for more than 800 dogs!!!!!All credit to the man who believed in it,started it and single handedly runs it #rakeshshukla @vosd.in .Happy that there is someone like him out there who's doing everything he can for dogs.Hats off to you Rakesh #voiceofstraydogs #vosd #dogshelter #dogparadise #dogs#dogsofinstagram #adoptdontshop
Thank you @manviraophotography for the photos

Ashwini Ponnappa also loves to ride a bicycle, here she captioned, I'm a TREK Bikes girl thanks to Trek Bicycle India for this wonderful gift - the FX S4!! It is a masterpiece and will surely enhance my training, apart from also letting me unwind with rides around the city thanks to Shilpa from Yellow Jersey - The Bicycle Station in Hyderabad for explaining every detail of the bike to me! Looking foward to some pedalling days #trekbikesindia #betterwithbikes #believeinbikes