Saturday, 21 Dec 2024

NEWS

‘Frenzied’, ‘relentless’, ‘blazing’ – whichever adjective you use, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are keeping badminton fans on the edge of their seats

And it’s producing results, a semi-final spot for the second year running at the YONEX All England, the world’s oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament.

19-year-old Jolly and Gopichand, barely out of her teens, are flying the flag alone for India as we head into the weekend in Birmingham.

“It’s overwhelming, I have no words,” said Gopichand. “We are proud and so happy to reach this stage, it’s like a dream come true.”

Jolly said: “We’re really proud when we go on court and the crowds are supporting us. It’s a proud moment for us every time.”

Last year they surprised themselves in reaching the final four, where they went down in two sets to China’s Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu.

Since then, the game has changed. They collected Commonwealth bronze in this city last summer and have their first BWF World Tour tournament wins under their belt.

“Last year was a little different, we just came for experience and to give our all,” said Gopichand.

“Coming into this year, I definitely wanted to win. We came here for the title.”

Tham Khảo Thêm:  News | BWF World Tour

On Friday, they were ruthless in the rubber against China’s Li Wen Mei and Liu Xuan Xuan.

They won the first set 21-14 and recovered from being pegged back 21-18 in the second, romping through the decider 21-12.

“It was a tough match, definitely. We were leading the second set, but they caught up. It happens. We were 11-4 up, and we managed to keep that lead,” said Gopichand.

Key to their success is that striking on-court style, with Jolly in particular seeking to disrupt opponents with her clever stroke play.

Quarterfinals underway as Jolly/Pullela 🇮🇳 take on Li/Liu 🇨🇳. #BWFWorldTour #AllEngland2023 pic.twitter.com/vxAeANNq3M

“(To attack) is normal for me. My style came as soon as I started playing. If I play singles, I always smash, and it came naturally with my flow,” she says.

“I know I take risks to win the points and focus on the attack.”

Gopichand is no stranger to scrutiny or pressure, being the daughter of Pullela, All England champion in 2001, and champion women’s singles star PVV Lakshmi.

“There’s no pressure,” she insists. “They don’t say, ‘you have to win the tournament,’ they want me to go out there and have fun, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Tickets for the 2023 YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships are on sale now. Click here to find out more.

FAQs

Q: How have Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand performed at the YONEX All England tournament?
A: Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have reached the semi-finals of the YONEX All England tournament for the second consecutive year.

Tham Khảo Thêm:  BWF News

Q: What achievements have Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand made in the badminton world?
A: Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have collected Commonwealth bronze and secured their first BWF World Tour tournament wins.

Q: What is the key to Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s success?
A: Treesa Jolly’s clever stroke play and her ability to disrupt opponents, along with their striking on-court style, have been key to their success.

Summary

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, the rising stars of Indian badminton, have captivated fans at the YONEX All England tournament with their exceptional skills and relentless performances. After an impressive semi-final spot last year, they have once again showcased their talent by reaching the semi-finals of this prestigious tournament. Their success can be attributed to Jolly’s clever stroke play and their dynamic on-court style. With Commonwealth bronze already under their belt and their first BWF World Tour tournament wins, Jolly and Gopichand are making waves in the badminton world. The future looks bright for these promising athletes as they continue to pursue their dreams on the badminton court.