Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Storm Into Next Round
Indian shuttlers Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand showcased a dominant performance on Friday, securing their spot in the next round of the Syed Modi India International Badminton Championship 2025. The defending champions defeated the pair of Abbigail Zenith and Likhita Srivastava with a convincing scoreline of 21-17, 21-12 in the pre-quarterfinals held at the UP Badminton Academy in Lucknow.
Playing Without Pressure and Finding Rhythm
In an exclusive conversation after their victory, Treesa Jolly revealed the team's mindset. "We are the defending champions, but we are not taking any pressure. We just want to play well and enjoy ourselves," she stated. This win marks a significant step in their comeback journey. Jolly highlighted that this is only their second tournament after a period of injury layoff, following a first-round exit at the Australia Open. "We just wanted to get the rhythm back," she added, emphasizing their focus on regaining form and confidence on the court.
Learning from the Best and Aiming for the Podium
The duo credited their coach, Pullela Gopichand, for their growth and self-belief. "I think both Gaia (Gayatri Gopichand) and I have learned a lot from Gopi sir," Treesa shared. "It's been almost four and a half years since I joined his academy. During training sessions, he filled us with a lot of confidence." Looking ahead, the players have their sights set on the ultimate prize. Treesa Jolly opened up about her Olympic dream, inspired by Saina Nehwal's historic bronze medal at the 2012 London Games. "It has always stayed in my memory that I also want to be on that podium one day. It's every badminton player's dream," she expressed.
She elaborated on the meticulous path to achieving this goal, stating that it requires taking small, consistent steps. "To reach that goal, you need to take small steps—playing 300 to 500 tournaments, getting on the podium, winning titles. Those steps give you the confidence to play at this level." She also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong world ranking for major multi-sport events like the Olympics and the Asian Games.
