Interview with doubles coach Sumeeth on Gayatri-Treesa’s bronze success

Coach B. Sumeeth Reddy expressed joy over Gayatri and Treesa Jolly’s World Championship bronze medal in women’s doubles, crediting their resilience, teamwork, and guidance from Gopi Chand. He highlighted their comeback after injury setbacks and stressed focus on process over results, with eyes now set on the Asian Games.

Hyderabad: Even as the dust is settling down and the World Championship bronze medallists in women’s doubles, Pullela Gayatri and Treesa Jolly, are celebrating what has been a truly memorable outing in Delhi last week, the joy of their doubles coach B. Sumeeth Reddy is pretty much understandable.

For someone who was himself an under-achiever, for different reasons, despite being one of the best doubles players of his time, Sumeeth played his role in shaping the destiny of the champion duo of Gayatri and Treesa for the last two years.

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“Unfortunately, we get recognition only when we get medals. But the fact is that we have been working really hard over the last few months. Both Gayatri and Treesa played really well even before. For sure, you need some luck,” Sumeeth informed ‘Telangana Today’ on his return to his hometown.

“Yes, our (the coach’s job) is made much easier since we have Gopi Anna around us with so much experience and expertise. The best part is the kind of freedom we enjoy in sharing crucial inputs about the game and the training methods. That is a huge plus for all of us (support staff),” says Sumeeth.

Reflecting on Gayatri and Treesa bronze, which happens to be only the second women’s doubles bronze for India after Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won in the 2011 edition, Sumeeth says the players getting injured is obviously the most difficult and challenging phase.

“They were forced to skip the Asian Championships and Uber Cup due to Treesa’s injury earlier this year. But it is their never-say-die attitude that really ensured this amazing turn-around,” he said.

“Treesa is the more aggressive and Gayatri is a perfect complement. The most pleasing aspect of their game is the rotations which upset the rhythm of the opponents consistently,” the 34-year-old Sumeeth said.

Sumeeth, the Rio Olympian who has his own three coaching centres, including Sikki-Sumeeth Sports Centre in the City, insists that even when Gayatri and Treesa lost in the knock-out phases of a few majors it was not that they were playing badly. “You need some luck for
sure,” he added.

“It was more about morale-booster for both the shuttlers before the Worlds. Self-belief and more focus on simple things like defence, net play which Gopi Anna insisted really helped them,” Sumeeth said.

“Well, every time any player enters the court, he or she would be hoping to come back with a medal. And we are no different. But, I reiterate that the focus was on the process and not just the
end-result. Hours of practice, commitment and passion helped our cause,” he said.

And for Sumeeth, it was not the first time he got a feel of being there when his players won a World championship medal. “In fact, Sathwik was saying that I happen to be the lucky mascot as Sathwik and Chirag won the World championship bronze when I was around the court,” he said with a big smile.

“Now the focus shifts to the Asian Games and we hope to keep improving,” signed off Sumeeth who is mentoring most of the junior players.