Delhi stadium hosts World Championships semi-final for Treesa-Gayatri
Historic World Championships medal for India
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured a landmark women’s doubles medal for Indian badminton at the World Championships. Their performance placed them among an exclusive group of Indian players who have achieved a podium finish at the World Championships. This achievement marks India’s first medal in women’s doubles at the event since 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa earned bronze in London.
The duo’s impressive run concluded in the women’s doubles semi-finals, where they faced the world No. 1 and defending champions, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning. The match saw Treesa and Gayatri lose with a score of 21-18, 13-21, 8-21.
Atmosphere at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium
The semi-final match took place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, drawing a significant crowd despite the 33 degrees Celsius temperature outside. The road leading to the stadium, which had been relatively quiet throughout the week, became bustling with spectators eager to attend the BWF World Championships. Inside the 15,000-seater facility, approximately half of which was in use for the tournament, the air conditioning was at full blast, matching the intense atmosphere created by the fans.
For the 64 minutes of the three-game contest, the crowd remained vocal in their support for the Indian pair. Chants of “C’mon Pullela!” and “Jolly Jolly” resonated through sections of the stadium whenever the Indian team scored a point. Calls of “Maar! Maar na!” were heard when a smash seemed imminent. Conversely, collective moans and “Noooos!” followed points scored by the Chinese opponents.
A young fan presented Treesa Jolly with a poster that read, “Together we rise higher.” The poster also featured the message, “Two rackets. One Dream. One Nation,” reflecting the sentiment within the venue. Dr. Harshil, a native of Vadodara, travelled by overnight train from Gujarat after purchasing tickets weeks in advance to witness the event. He noted the happy coincidence of India winning a medal for the 12th consecutive edition of the tournament.
The crowd’s energy was further amplified by a set of dhols located in the second tier of the stadium, which were played periodically. Even as the Chinese pair began to gain a lead in the second set, capitalising on errors from the Indian players, the crowd’s intensity seemed to increase. The defiance shown by the Indian team on the court was mirrored by the rising decibel levels from the spectators.
Reflections on the campaign
Despite the loss, Treesa expressed her satisfaction with their overall performance throughout the week. She described the campaign as “amazing” and highlighted the “upsets” they achieved, noting that it was a “great week” with many “great matches” and valuable experiences to take away from the tournament.
Gayatri mentioned the mental toll of their previous intense match, although they managed to start strongly in the subsequent outing. She acknowledged that mental fatigue can occur during such demanding competitions. Treesa also commented on the role of confidence and luck in crucial moments of a match, suggesting that these elements need to align for success.
The announcement of their Arjuna Award earlier in the week provided an additional boost for the team. Treesa stated that this recognition contributed to their confidence during the tournament. She views the medal as just the beginning of a longer journey for the pair, expressing happiness to be part of the “medal club.”
As the third set progressed and the Chinese team intensified their pressure, the Indian players’ intensity and coherence waned. The crowd, which had been vociferous initially, began to disperse as the world No. 1s accumulated points. The venue, which had faced criticism during the India Open in January, made a significant impression during this semi-final.
Source: theprint.in
Priya Menon 