Badminton'Being Pullela Gopichand's daughter is a big baggage': Coach B Sumeeth Reddy

India's Treesa Jolly, front right, and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, left, celebrate with the latter's father and their coach Pullela Gopichand after winning a women's doubles quarterfinal badminton match against China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, unseen, at the BWF World.

Key points

• It additionally concluded a 15-year wait for an Indian women's doubles medal at the World Championships, with Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa having last reached the podium in 2011.
• Treesa Jolly & Gayatri Gopichand press conference: India's historic medal at BWF Worlds 2026.
• Speaking after the victory, Reddy remarked Gayatri's achievement carried a unique emotional significance as of the expectations that have followed her throughout her career.
• I think with this, she would be relieved that she is additionally a World Championship medallist.
• She wanted to do something major, prove that she's not playing tournaments just to compete.

NEW DELHI: For B Sumeeth Reddy, the euphoria that followed Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand's historic moment at the BWF World Championships on Friday was regarding far more than a guaranteed bronze medal. It was regarding two players finally laying down the weight they had carried for years.India's unseeded women's doubles pair produced one of the finest victories of their careers, coming from a game down to defeat China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in New Delhi. The win assured them of at least a bronze medal. Watch.

It additionally concluded a 15-year wait for an Indian women's doubles medal at the World Championships, with Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa having last reached the podium in 2011. Starting with Gayatri being Gopi sir's daughter. It's a major baggage. Everyone would say 'silver spoon' and all of that, but I think it's a particularly sizeable baggage.

Speaking after the victory, Reddy remarked Gayatri's achievement carried a unique emotional significance as of the expectations that have followed her throughout her career. The 23-year-old is the daughter of legendary Pullela Gopichand. This person is additionally the national coach and was courtside as the duo progressed to the semi-finals."Both of them have their own baggage, starting with Gayatri being Gopi sir's daughter. It's a major baggage. Everyone would say 'silver spoon' and all of that, but I think it's a particularly sizeable baggage, " Reddy noted. India's Treesa Jolly (R) and Gayatri Gopichand pose for a photo in the women's doubles quarter-final match against China's Zhang Shuxian and Jia Yifan at the BWF World Championships at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI).

"I think with this, she would be relieved that she is additionally a World Championship medallist. That would be a massive medal in her career."The coach was equally effusive in his praise for Treesa, whose return from an ankle injury has powered the pair's resurgence.

Notably, the duo had broken into the world's top 10 before injuries interrupted their progress, and only returned to the circuit in June after months of rehabilitation."Treesa was particularly hungry from the start of her career. She wanted to do something major, prove that she's not playing tournaments just to compete. She always wanted to be the star of Indian badminton. This again is a major achievement in her kitty as well, " he stated. Once the match finished, I just congratulated him saying, 'You have done it, bhayya.' He's a father as well, and he's been at this for the last 45 days, doing two or three sessions every day.

For context, the comeback victory was remarkable in itself. The Indians had never beaten Jia and Zhang in three previous meetings and discovered themselves trailing 1-6 in the opening game. After conceding the first game, they recovered brilliantly, turning a 5-10 deficit in the second into a commanding finish before racing through the decider with relentless attacking badminton.As the pair celebrated on court, Reddy shared a quieter moment with Gayatri's father and chief national coach Pullela Gopichand on the sidelines."Once the match finished, I just congratulated him saying, 'You have done it, bhayya.' He's a father as well, and he's been at this for the last 45 days, doing two or three sessions every day. Even when they were tired, they kept working. I just remarked, 'You have done it. It's a World Championship medal in your kitty.'" Join conversation.

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India's Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, front, and Treesa Jolly compete during a women's doubles quarterfinal badminton match against China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, unseen, at the BWF World Championships, at IGI Stadium, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Salman Ali) (PTI08_21_2026_000194B).

Meanwhile, the significance of the medal extended beyond the pair. India had entered the home World Championships carrying an unbroken medal streak dating back to 2011, and Reddy admitted the pressure of keeping it alive in front of thousands of home fans was immense."It's always tough, especially in India with the home crowd. Thousands of individuals are trying to encourage them, and they want to produce sure the crowd goes back home happily. We have had that medal streak for the last 15 years, and if we didn't obtain one in India, that would have been the saddest thing. I'm really happy that our event could be the reason."Treesa and Gayatri will now play in the semi-finals with the chance to upgrade India's first women's doubles World Championships medal in 15 years into an even rarer prize. Obtain the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.

Taken together, the developments around badminton' Being Pullela Gopichand' s daughter is a big baggage' : Coach B Sumeeth Reddy point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.