Indian Shuttlers Shine in Lucknow Semifinals
Indian badminton witnessed a spectacular display of talent and determination as Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Kidambi Srikanth powered their way into the finals of the Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament in Lucknow. The defending champions in women's doubles and the former champion in men's singles showcased their class in hard-fought semifinal matches that highlighted their comeback journeys.
Dominant Display by Treesa-Gayatri
The top-seeded women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand delivered a commanding performance against Malaysian opponents Carmen Ting and Ong Yin Xee. The Indian duo secured their finals berth with a straight-games victory of 21-11, 21-15, demonstrating excellent coordination and tactical superiority.
Treesa, who had earlier competed in the mixed doubles semifinals with Hariharan Amsakarunan, displayed remarkable sharpness in the front court. Her recent experience playing mixed doubles throughout the season has significantly enhanced her net play and reflexes. Meanwhile, Gayatri, returning to competitive action after a precautionary break and intensive rehabilitation, showed no signs of discomfort as she moved well on court and executed powerful smashes.
Srikanth's Grueling Battle Against Manjunath
In the men's singles category, fifth seed Kidambi Srikanth faced a tough challenge from compatriot and former national champion Mithun Manjunath. The intense semifinal match stretched to almost 60 minutes before Srikanth emerged victorious with scores of 21-15, 19-21, 21-13.
Speaking after the match, Srikanth acknowledged the quality of his opponent, stating, "Mithun always plays well with me, and he has been playing well given he reached the semis." The former world number one also commented on the court conditions, mentioning "some drift, not uncontrollable" during the match, but emphasized that he managed to secure a good start without too many errors.
The Comeback Stories Behind the Success
Both victories represent significant milestones in the players' comeback journeys from injuries and form slumps. Srikanth, currently ranked 38th in the world, last won the Syed Modi International title in 2016. His brother Nandagopal revealed the family's silent hopes for Srikanth to regain his championship momentum.
"It's not easy to maintain form and confidence through injuries," Nandagopal explained. "He stays normal and doesn't react to setbacks and works hard with same mindset. But he wants to prove a point that he can achieve a comeback."
For the women's doubles pair, the journey has been equally challenging. Coach Sumeeth Reddy highlighted Treesa's development, noting her "very hungry for results" attitude and her middle-class background that fuels her champion mindset. "Her father keeps her motivated telling her she's no less than any player in the world, not even boys," Reddy shared.
Championship Sunday Awaits
In the finals scheduled for Sunday, the Indian contenders face determined international opponents. Treesa and Gayatri will take on Japanese pair Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe, ranked 35th in the world. Gayatri acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating "We'll have to be patient" against the perennial retrievers from Japan.
Srikanth will face Indonesian shuttler Jason Gunawan, ranked 59th globally. Although Srikanth has beaten Gunawan twice before, the Indonesian has shown impressive form in this tournament, defeating notable players including Misha Zilberman, Kiran George, and Magnus Johannesen with late surges.
Coach Reddy also shed light on the different pressures faced by the players, particularly Gayatri who carries "the baggage of being Gopi sir's daughter" where even reaching Top 10 might not be enough to fulfill expectations that are always about winning prestigious tournaments like the All England.
As the Indian shuttlers prepare for their championship matches, their performances in Lucknow have already demonstrated their resilience and determination to return to the pinnacle of world badminton. The Syed Modi International finals promise thrilling action as these comeback stories seek their perfect conclusion.
