They can go all the way: Ashwini Ponnappa backs Treesa-Gayatri for World C'ships gold

Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta’s bronze at the 2011 World Championships was a breakthrough moment for Indian badminton. 

It was historic in many ways. They became the first Indian pair and the first Indian women’s doubles team to win a World Championships medal. It was also India’s second medal in the tournament’s history after Prakash Padukone’s bronze in 1983.

Now, 15 years later, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have given Indian fans another historic moment by reaching the semifinals and confirming at least a bronze in New Delhi.

Watching the young Indian pair closely, Ashwini strongly believes they are capable of going one better or perhaps all the way to gold.

“Its remarkable performance. Treesa-Gayatri had a tough couple of rounds. It’s still not over for them; they can still go one better or all the way to the gold,” Ashwini told The Bridge on Saturday.

The Indian pair beat 16th-seeded American duo Lauren Lam and Allison Lee in the round of 32 and then beat another high-ranked Japanese pair, Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi.

In the quarterfinals, Treesa-Gayatri were down a game but bounced back to pull off a massive comeback upset against China's 4th-seeded Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian to confirm their place in the semifinals.

“This entire tournament Treesa-Gayatri have done phenomenally well, loved the composure, the energy. They are a very strong pair from all the pairs out there. They have a strong chance of doing even better. A historic moment for India,” she added.

What stands out about Treesa and Gayatri, Ashwini believes, is their all round game.

“Definitely Treesa-Gayatri, they have been a strong pair with an all-round doubles game. They are good at the net, good in attack and good with their defence. They can switch things around. Gayatri can play from the back and hold rallies, and Treesa also moves well. They have been rock solid,” Ashwini said.

India waited 15 years for its next women’s doubles medal at the World Championships. Ashwini, however, admits she never thought about when the next medal would come.

But since their bronze in 2011, the landscape for Indian doubles has changed.

“Since Jwala and I won the bronze, doubles have grown by leaps and bounds. There is more focus on getting youngsters to play doubles and the infrastructure has improved. You’re seeing the results now,” she said.

Ashwini, however, believes India still needs stronger doubles pairs.

“First, we need more doubles pairs, which we are lacking. But to have one or two pairs from either discipline doing well at a World Championship in India is a good sign. Hopefully, we will have more pairs coming up,” she said.

On India’s overall performance in New Delhi, Ashwini was clear in her assessment.

“Our doubles players have definitely performed better than the singles players. The singles players also gave their best and fought hard, but unfortunately, they ended up on the losing side,” she concluded.