-Boria Majumdar
Indian badminton takes serious strides.
Each time they lost a close match I’d call up Gopi and ask him why is it that Gayatri and Treesa can’t close out close games. Why is it that Gayatri isn’t being able to defend and why is Treesa rushing into closing points?
Each time Gopi would tell me give them a little time. They have the ability. Gayatri will build more power and get better at defending and Treesa will get better at attacking.
My question was when? Women’s doubles since Ashwini and Jwala hasn’t really been our forte and we could see glimpses of class from this young duo.
And then we think of the 3 days in Dubai at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships. And now the All England.
In the quarter final against Hong Kong with the tie at 2 matches all Gayatri and Treesa had to step up. It was all about pressure. How to handle nerves. How to overcome fear of failure and deliver when it mattered. They were brilliant.
And if we thought it was an aberration they did do against China yet again. Yes China. India was down 1-2 and they pulled off a stunner against the Chinese. Yes India lost the tie 2-3 but it was an incredible comeback.
At All England they have punched above their weight on two consecutive days. Taken out two top ten teams. And one of them they had lost two four times in the past. Yes they are work in progress but what is out there for all to see is the potential. Now to give them all support.
Yes I will make my customary call to Gopi now. And no I won’t ask the when question! Rather I will ask the how? How did they push the bar and how did it happen? If they keep going we have a pair that can actually challenge the best. With Satwik and Chirag already up there, doubles is indeed giving us real hope.
The progress is to be seen. There is hope and there is passion. Best to the young duo.