NEW DELHI: Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s run to a historic bronze medal at the BWF World Championships was no accident. It was the result of six weeks of targeted work, tactical tweaks and an unwavering emphasis on patience, said chief national coach Pullela Gopichand on Saturday.The Indian women’s doubles team signed off with a bronze medal after going down to defending champions Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China 21-18, 13-21, 8-21 in front a massive crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.Jolly-Gopichand, both 23, became India’s first women’s doubles World Championships medallists in 15 years.Later, as India’s campaign ended with a solitary medal, Gopichand spoke to the media about the technical changes that transformed their game, the significance of Gayatri’s achievement, and why the pair’s breakthrough could be another step forward for Indian badminton ahead of the Asian Games in Japan.
Excerpts:
Q. About the women’s doubles semi-final. Till the second game, they were quite there in the match. What changed?Gopichand: I think until the second game mid-part they were in the match. Suddenly, they didn’t contact the shuttle as much as I would have really liked. And then, they just lost it. But also, credit to the Chinese girls, because they were serving very well.Because there was a good amount of spin and tumble on the serve. And then, on the first return, they were hitting very hard. So, I think Gayatri’s and Treesa’s chance of getting on the attack from the very beginning was not happening. But overall, I’m happy with the way they have played.
New Delhi, Aug 22 (ANI): India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela during the women’s doubles semifinal at the BWF Badminton World Championships at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo/Naveen Sharma)
Q. What could they have done differently in the third set? Especially against a pairing that gets more aggressive as the match progresses.Gopichand: I think once they lost the attack as much because they were not contacting it or the grip was there, which was very difficult. They’ve got a tumble on the serve which was very distinct. So what was happening in that moment, you push it, the next return was very fast.And then you were engaging in the parallel game as much. So in my book, I think you don’t have too many options. The one option you could do was just lift the first serve and then start blocking or counter-attacking from the smash. That’s one.But then, when you are under three-point deficit, then that becomes very difficult to be calm and execute that strategy. So in that sense, I’m okay with it. In the sense, you have to battle that. You can’t run away from it. When people push the pace, you have to get used to it.Q. After the high of winning and beating the Chinese, how difficult was it to come today or what did you have to tell the girls to kind of get back to focusing on the next challenge?Gopichand: I think they did well. Of course, they must have been excited here or when they got back. But I think overall, by the time they reached the hotel, I think the recovery had started. And food and rest and off their phones. So, all those basic hygiene things were done. And they prepared well. Yes, they couldn’t win today but overall it was good.Q. Can you shed some light on what helped the duo this week? What were the keys to their success this week?Gopichand: I think overall they have a naturally good game. Decent serve, both of them serve well. Smash-wise, Treesa is very good. Gayatri is very strong at the net. They get those rhythms, patches of rhythms, which they’ve been very, very good at. And I think the atmosphere and the stadium is also, it’s a big hall, right? So you can see some very long matches happening. So you can’t just get a point. You have to earn a point. So you can’t just be in a hurry and play a stroke to get a point. You have to work yourself. So patience is something which is spoken about. And basically it just means that you can’t be in a hurry. You have to be quick, you have to be fast, but not necessarily in a hurry. And that’s what patience would mean. And at the end of it, to get back and stick to your strategy is worth saving.
Whatever we’ve worked in the last six weeks has helped. And it’s good to see when the practice which you do actually gives you dividends on court.
Gopichand
New Delhi, Aug 22 (ANI): India’s Gayatri Gopichand Pullela in action against China’s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in the women’s doubles semifinal during the BWF Badminton World Championships at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo/Naveen Sharma)
Q. What is the most striking aspect of their badminton this tournament? They seem to be rotating a lot more. So just tell us a bit more about that.Gopichand: We’ve worked on it. And I think it’s whatever we’ve worked in the last six weeks has helped. And it’s good to see when the practice which you do actually gives you dividends on court. All of these things we’ve worked on.I think it’s a revelation how Treesa kept charging at the net and started taking control. Gayatri’s backcourt has been good. And the rhythm on her serve was very good. I think these two aspects. And at the crucial moments, they were able to pull through.
Whenever my players have played, I think I’ve always had the same feeling. And there’s no extra for Gayatri
Gopichand
Q. There must be some emotions as a father to see your daughter perform so well.Gopichand: Well, to be honest, I don’t know if I can articulate it in that sense. But I think whenever my players have played, I think I’ve always had the same feeling. And there’s no extra for Gayatri. More than I’ve had for any of my players.
With God’s grace, in a family… there are two Arjuna awardees. Two players, two Arjuna awardees. It’s rare.
Gopichand
Q. Gayatri won the Arjuna Award this week. How proud of a moment is that for you?Gopichand: I’m very proud of the way she’s played. With God’s grace, in a family… there are two Arjuna awardees. Two players, two Arjuna awardees. It’s rare. I’m grateful to God for this. And yes, I’m very proud of her performance and her results. And the way she’s conducted herself.Q. Gopi sir, a word on India’s campaign at the BWF World Championships?Gopichand: Overall, it has been a little unfortunate that we have lost some close matches. In women’s singles, we have lost both the matches very closely. In men’s singles, Ayush’s first day was very good. But the second day was a little bit disappointing. But overall, I think we were decent in that sense. I won’t be too worried about it. Some days, these things do happen. But the next time around, at the Asian Games, I’m hoping for better performance.Q. How is the Indian badminton team going to prepare for the Asian Games? What specific areas are you going to look at as a coach?Gopichand: Well, I think as of now, what’s happening is that each one has a dedicated team allotted to them. So we have Lakshya (Sen), we have Ayush (Shetty), we have (Kidambi) Srikanth or Tharun (Mannepalli). Or whether it’s the girls – PV Sindhu, Unnati (Hooda), Tanvi (Sharma), Devika (Sihag). All of them have a dedicated team. So they get back to work. Some of them are playing tournaments. They play the China Open. So I think they’re all now in a stage of their career that they’re all professional in that sense. They have a team to work along. So we get along and move on to the Asian Games.Also to just make a point, the team is really pumped up. Whether it’s Thomas Cup, I think the players themselves do a lot of work to get together and build the camaraderie in that sense. So that’s what we’re hoping will happen.Q. We have won medals in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles. Not yet in mixed doubles. What do you make of it?Gopichand: I’m glad we’re asking these questions (in this manner). Because when Saina (Nehwal) went on in 2008 when she reached the quarters. So the question was, where are the men? And then where’s the men’s doubles? The women’s doubles? So we’re just ticking one box at a time. And hopefully mixed doubles will be the next one.
