New Delhi: India's ace Tennis player Sania Mirza’s statement that the way All India Tennis Association (AITA) is handled the tennis fracas in the country reflect male chauvinistic approach has been supported by star shuttler Jwala Gutta.

Gutta said that this has always been long standing problem in Indian sports and it discourages females from taking sports as a career. "It's always been there. I have suffered the same way. It is quite ridiculous. We have so many female athletes, big names who have done really well in sports. Many might be afraid to take up sports as career," Gutta told the NDTV. 

Talking about the way that AITA has dealt with the whole episode, Gutta said that AITA should have consulted Sania before taking any such decision.

"AITA should have done this in a civil manner. No excuse for such behaviour towards women athletes. The association should have called the players and everybody's opinion would have mattered. It not only brings bad name for tennis, but bad name to the way the whole system works," she added.

Earlier Sania who was tight lipped about the whole incident opened up after her wild card entry to the Olympics was confirmed saying that she has been used as a bait to pacify Leander Paes so that he agrees to take part in London Olympics.

"As an Indian woman belonging to the 21st century, what I find disillusioning is the humiliating manner in which I was put up as a bait to try and pacify one of the disgruntled stalwarts of Indian tennis,” said Sania.

"While I feel honoured and privileged to have been chosen to partner Leander Paes, the manner and timing of the announcement wreaks of male chauvinism where a two-time Grand Slam champion, who has been India's No.1 women's tennis player for almost a decade in singles and doubles is offered in compensation to partner one of the feuding champions purely in order to lure him into accepting to play with a men's player he does not wish to play with!" she said.