THE sporadic growth doubles badminton has seen in India might change into a full-fledged bloom after the historic World Championship bronze by the talented pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. Though the duo went down in the semi-finals, they ensured that India’s 15-year wait for a Worlds medal in women’s doubles would finally end. India had last won a World Championship medal in this category back in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed bronze in London. Treesa and Gayatri have entered the exclusive club with their superlative performance in New Delhi and with it have revived the hope of women’s doubles finally coming out of the big shadow of singles. The pair’s success could be gauged from the fact that they were unseeded. Yet, they scripted a giant-killing act in the quarter-final to ensure a medal for India.

 

Though the calm and cool approach could not be replicated in the semi-final, both Treesa and Gayatri have fueled a new wave of energy for women’s doubles badminton. Never among the top choices for shuttlers, women’s doubles were waiting for such a moment to spur new interest in the budding players. The Treesa-Gayatri duo’s future journey will now be keenly watched by sports fans in India. Both have been receiving the guidance of chief coach Pullela Gopichand. Gayatri held the double advantage of getting lessons from her illustrious father as well as coach. Together, they formed a fantastic partnership and with Gopi’s calculated strategies, the Indian pair climbed the ladder with good show. However, the BWF World Championship medal is now set to fire-up their ambition as well as their game. Their future success will be a major shot in the arm for women’s double badminton. Pioneered by Ami Ghia and Kanwal Thakur Singh who won a medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, India’s doubles story has had a start-stop journey in the international circuit. As singles kept attracting youngsters in both men and women categories, the doubles format was searching for a pair who could bring it back on track.

 

The flag was carried successfully by the feisty Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa for a considerable period. They were the first to break the glass-ceiling by winning India’s first World Championship medal, a bronze, in 2011. Ponnappa continued her pursuit in women’s doubles with N Sikki Reddy but they had a mixed run in international tournaments. Since then, India had been waiting for a fresh surge in women’s doubles. Treesa and Gayatri have successfully handled that surge and are looking good to carry the flag further. The bronze medal should also make budding shuttlers see the benefit of opting for doubles. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has already marked it as a potential medal winning category. Many youngsters have started focusing completely on doubles at a young age. Doubles players need to get into the discipline early in their career and be trained to deal with the powerful nature of the game. Dedicated doubles coach from the grassroots can be a good addition to their pursuit.