Chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand said six weeks of focused tactical work, improved on-court rotation and greater patience underpinned the historic bronze medal won by Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
The women’s doubles pair became the first Indian duo to reach the semi-finals at the World Championships, where they lost to China’s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning. Gopichand, speaking after the tournament, highlighted the pair’s progress and expressed optimism about India’s prospects in the discipline.
The coach attributed the breakthrough to a structured preparation block that emphasized rotational discipline and shot selection, areas where the pair had previously conceded advantages against higher-ranked opponents. He noted that the semi-final appearance reflected measurable improvement in their ability to control rally tempo against top-tier competition.
Analysis: The bronze medal marks a milestone for Indian women’s doubles, which has historically trailed the singles and men’s doubles categories in global medal counts. The six-week preparation window cited by Gopichand aligns with the typical taper-and-peak cycle used ahead of major championships, suggesting the coaching staff identified specific tactical gaps that could be addressed in a concentrated period. The loss to the Chinese pair, who are reigning Olympic champions, underscores the remaining gap in consistency at the highest level, but the semi-final run provides a benchmark for future targeting of podium finishes at the Olympics and Asian Games.
Sources
– Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/badminton/patience-six-weeks-of-work-and-belief-pullela-gopichand-explains-treesa-jolly-gayatri-gopichands-world-championships-breakthrough/articleshow/133426903.cms
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Story synopsis gathered from: Times of India – Top Stories — source
