Treesa-Gayatri savour historic World Championships bronze at home

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand reflected on their historic World Championships bronze in Delhi, becoming only the second Indian women’s doubles pair to medal at the event. The duo called it an “eventful week” and said they would embrace their ‘TreGa’ nickname

Hyderabad: Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who became only the second Indian women’s doubles pair to win a medal (bronze) in Delhi World Badminton Championship on Saturday after Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappain were the first in the 2011 edition said they had an “eventful week” and would enjoy the nickname TreGa after their consistent exploits on the world stage.

“I think going into the quarterfinal match, personally, I didn’t have any expectations. I just wanted to go there and give my 100 percent. And I didn’t really know what was going to happen because we had just come back from a long break, a few ups and downs. I just wanted to go there and give my 100 percent. After the first set, it was very tricky. In the second set as well, we were down 7-10,” Gayatri reflected on the semifinal loss.

---

“We converted a few points there and we really took charge. We changed the game plan when we did it and it worked in our favor. And once we finished the second set, once we won the second set, I think we were super confident. We just looked at each other and we were like, I think we can do it. Just one more game, I think we were this close to winning the medal. We just trusted each other and we played some really good badminton,” she said.

“At the end of it, I was just so emotional. It was like a pinch-me moment, like is this really happening? So, I just started crying. The emotions were just there throughout the match and afterwards, it was just out there. Till the last point, it’s not over. Once it was done, we were like, we made it,” Gayatri said.

For her part, Treesa said: “Getting a world championship medal, that’s almost a dream for us as partners. And that’s happening at home, so that is much more special for us. It’s a goosebumps moment where you get that emotional. These many years when I played, this is the tournament where we both are getting emotional on court. “

“Every tournament, we give our 100%. But this one, it’s more connected with the mix of emotions and everything… and Gopi sir is sitting behind and he was just guiding us throughout the match, just to calm down. Even when we were at match point also, we had that lead. But we were just calm and just waiting for the right moment to just express our happiness,” she said.

On Gayatri learning to deal with the pressure of carrying the Gopichand name, Gayatri said: “Honestly, I think sometimes on court, I do feel that pressure. I wouldn’t say I don’t, but there is also a lot of guidance. And that is the better part of it. On court, there is not much time to think about my father. And outside pressure, there is already so much going on inside the match. Yeah, when I go off the court, I feel… There are a lot of people who tell me, ‘you are Gopi sir’s daughter. You need to prove yourself’. But honestly, I think I am much better now. There is pressure, but then I have learnt how to handle it. I think when I am on court, we are just enjoying ourselves. That’s what he tells me. He just tells me to enjoy it. I think (the pressure) is more for the people outside. But for me, I don’t feel that as much. We have this chat. He asks me, ‘Do you feel pressured because of this?’ I am like, no, it’s not that hard. I can deal with it. There is going to be some sort of pressure for sure. But I think over the years, I have learned to deal with it.”

On the role Treesa’s father (Jolly Mathew) played in her journey from Kannur, Treesa said: “My father was a volleyball coach, and we had a volleyball court in our backyard. At that time a lot of players were taking up badminton, so he changed it into a badminton court for me and my elder sister. The initial days were difficult. It was an expensive sport and we had to face a lot of financial struggles. I think my father somehow he never made me feel all those kind of pressures. That confidence gives you something else, when your parents are telling you that you have the talent to play at that level. I think that support was there for my parents. My parents are so amazing in that regard. I am here because of my parents.”

“My jump smash also is possibly because of my father making me train with volleyball drills at the start. When I was in Class I, I would do the volleyball jump serve. I had that strength. My sister also backed me a lot. And then there is my friend Varshini at the academy who took care of me like a parent for those 7 weeks I was injured, and couldn’t even go home,” she said.

On the rotations between front and back courts, and doing that more often, Gayatri said: “ When Treesa was injured, I just wanted to be fit. I wanted to cover the backcourt when she comes back because it’s not going to be easy after the injury to come back and cover that much area. So, that’s how it started and I was doing a lot more of backcourt work too. So, I could be fit to cover her but it wasn’t needed. She was stronger than ever. And also, in this tournament, I feel like Treesa’s net game was just incredible. I think I had never seen her net game this high level.”

Treesa said: “That’s what we were doing a lot of during the training as well. Today morning only, I was talking to her about this. ‘Bro, I always get that fear of going to the net.’ Because I’m not really as confident to play at the net because I just kind of hit harder and just be aggressive. So you need to be a little more calmer when you play the net. I think Gopi sir while doing the sessions for us, he was always telling, just block and go to the net but be calm.”

“ The training system was made like that so actually when we came and played here, I was able to see that difference. That made me believe that ya, exactly what we are doing in the training session was actually working. I saw that difference playing against the Japanese when actually I took charge on the net and Gaya started to hit from the backcourt. The rotation was really good. I think that really helped us,” she said.

On how coach Gopichand prepares specially for a big tournament, Gayatri said:”Definitely. I think once we started playing together after her injury recovery, there were only a few very basic things. Block, net, drive, smash. Simple but very effective programs that we used to do repeatedly. Morning, evening, morning, evening. I think we did the same program every day for two months. After the session is done, he always asks us. Does this make sense? Do you understand what’s happening?”

For her part, Treesa said: “I think that’s a good quality of his, coming and asking us how it was going. As a coach, Gopi sir has kind of achieved everything. But I also have this kind of attitude to also have a conversation with the players. If we have any doubt or something, we just come to him and clear that.”

On how difficult it is dealing with injury rehab as a doubles pair, when one person is injured, Gayatri said: “ When she was injured also, I just thought I just have to practice and practice. Because injuries just disrupt the rhythm and the momentum. So I just wanted to be fit and ready for her. I knew Treesa was hurting. It is the first time I think she has had that serious an injury. We just had to be patient with each other. Trust each other on court, off court, anywhere. I think even when she was injured, we had conversations.”

“ Once we got back, we had to work harder. She has always been there for me when I have got injured so many times. She has always called me and said ‘kuch nahi hoga bhai, tum vapas aa, hum khelenge.’ I think she has been a good support. To have someone by your side at that time, it really helps you stay positive,” she said.

On playing high quality badminton against two top Chinese pairs, Treesa said:”Saturday’s performance, we were about to beat them. It’s a matter of time, I feel, we just want to take this confidence and just continue. Being here on a global stage where we can play this level. This week of matches, whatever we played, it was such great, intense matches, I think those kind of matches that we get and we can win and pull off those results, I think that is kind of a big confidence boost for us.”

On what they will take away from this week, Gayatri said: “Gayatri: It has been so eventful, with the Arjuna award, the bronze medal and, you know, the World Championships happening in Delhi. When we were walking in for our semifinals match, I thought it was amazing, like that feeling, I’ve never felt it before. There were so many people, like it was packed, it almost felt like a cricket stadium. It felt amazing, so yeah, I think we’ve played some amazing matches here, so much to learn from. I think we’re still improving, still learning and I think I just want to also thank my physios, trainers, coaches; they’ve worked so, so hard to put us in form and I’m just super happy with whatever has happened this week, so happy, so grateful for everything.”