Jwala Gutta, PV Sindhu and Dipika Pallikal Jwala Gutta, PV Sindhu and Dipika Pallikal

India's badminton stars Jwala Gutta and P.V. Sindhu and squash player Dipika Pallikal say they expect more appreciation and have felt discriminated against compared to other sports such as cricket.

Speaking at the India Today Woman Summit and Awards 2014 on Saturday, Jwala said: "We expect a little bit of acknowledgement and respect. If we were here to make money, we would have picked up other sports, not badminton and squash."

The session was titled 'What a racket - The String Quintet'.

Jwala said there are hundreds of things to deal with when one becomes a national champion, forget about being an international champion.

Citing the Chinese government's support to players, she said: "In China from the day they pick up the racket to the day they retire, they are taken care of. I wonder why we only have one Saina and one Sindhu. Why don't have 10-10 champions like in China? The huge figure I hear the government gives to the badminton association is huge. Where is the money going?"

On her row with the Badminton Association of India, Jwala said: "I spoke up only when bad things had happened, when I was threatened to be banned for life. I believe in strength, being truthful gives strength."

She said other sports should be promoted the way Indian cricket.

"It's commendable how BCCI has promoted cricket played only in 12 countries. Other sports must learn from BCCI," she said.

Deepika, a squash champion, said there was discrimination against women in sports.

"My mother was captain of Indian cricket team. When they toured West Indies,? 15 of them were kept in one room."

"Except Dinesh Karthik I hate all cricketers because they steal all the limelight and endorsements," she said.

Deepika said she was yet to receive half of her TA DA from Indian Olympic Association for the Commonwealth Games.

She also that due to lack of a proper place to train, she had to move to Egypt. "When I was forced out of my country at the age of 14, I hated being alone in Egypt. But I wanted to prove everyone wrong. Such experiences made me stronger and could achieve whatever I have done today," she said.

She said there was no greater feeling than playing for the country.