India's Treesa Jolly, front right, and Gayatri Gopich and Pullela, left, celebrate with the latter's father and their coach Pullela Gopich and after winning a women's doubles quarterfinal badminton match against China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, unseen, at the BWF World Championships, at IGI Stadium, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: For B Sumeeth Reddy, the euphoria that followed Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopich and's historic moment at the BWF World Championships on Friday was about far more than a guaranteed bronze medal.
It was about two players finally laying down the weight they had carried for years. India's unseeded women's doubles pair produced one of the finest victories of their careers, coming from a game down to defeat China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in New Delhi.
The win assured them of at least a bronze medal. It also ended a 15-year wait for an Indian women's doubles medal at the World Championships, with Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa having last reached the podium in 2011.
Starting with Gayatri being Gopi sir's daughter. It's a big baggage.
Everyone would say 'silver spoon' and all of that, but I think it's a very big baggageb sUMEETSpeaking after the victory, Reddy said Gayatri's achievement carried a unique emotional significance because of the expectations that have followed her throughout her career. The 23-year-old is the daughter of legendary Pullela Gopich and, who is also the national coach and was courtside as the duo progressed to the semi-finals."
Both of them have their own baggage, starting with Gayatri being Gopi sir's daughter. It's a big baggage.
Everyone would say 'silver spoon' and all of that, but I think it's a very big baggage," Reddy said. India's Treesa Jolly (R) and Gayatri Gopich and pose for a photo in the women's doubles quarter-final match against China's Zhang Shuxian and Jia Yifan at the BWF World Championships at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Friday.
(ANI)" I think with this, she would be relieved that she is also a World Championship medallist. That would be a huge medal in her career."
The coach was equally effusive in his praise for Treesa, whose return from an ankle injury has powered the pair's resurgence. The duo had broken into the world's top 10 before injuries interrupted their progress, and only returned to the circuit in June after months of rehabilitation."
