Jolly Good, Indeed: Treesa And Gayatri On Bronze, Ice Cream, Sushi And Their Asian Games Dream
The Indian duo, who won the country's only medal at the ongoing World Championships, responded to the adulation with victories and an exciting brand of badminton.
All through the week, chants of "Pullela Pullela, Jolly Good" reverberated around the arena inside the IG Stadium. The Indian duo, who won the country's only medal at the ongoing World Championships, responded to the adulation with victories and an exciting brand of badminton. Just before Treesa and Gayatri stepped inside the stadium to collect their bronze medals on Sunday, NDTV's Rica Roy caught up with them for a freewheeling chat on celebrations, the Asian Games, upping the ante, ice cream, sushi cravings and much more.
Q: All week, the fans in the stands have been celebrating each point you scored. Tell us, what did your celebrations look like? Did Treesa take the team out for dinner after the Worlds medal win?
Treesa Jolly: We actually planned to take everyone out for dinner last night, but it couldn't happen. I think when we go back to Hyderabad, the whole team will be there. We'll take our time, sit together, chit-chat and go out for dinner or some other meal. We'll definitely celebrate together.
Q: And Gayatri, did you finally get your ice cream? You had been craving one during the World Championships.
Gayatri Gopichand: Yes, I was. I think for the last three months, I hadn't had any sugar. Throughout this whole week, I really wanted to stay away from it. But once the match was over, all I wanted was an ice cream. So I had one, and I absolutely loved it.
Q: This Indian badminton team is filled with top performers. What impact does your medal win have on the team and the women's doubles ecosystem?
Treesa Jolly: I think, personally, it is a huge confidence booster for us as well. For the future generation of women's doubles players, I hope this shows that they can come onto a global stage and perform at this level. They can believe that they belong here and that they can compete for medals.
And, of course, this result also gives us confidence going into the Asian Games. When the Asiad comes around, we can take this experience and the confidence from this World Championship and go there, play our game and try to win another medal. I think that means a lot to us.
Q: Gayatri, you two are quite different on court. Treesa brings the aggression. How do you plan to complement that as both of you look towards the Asian Games and another big medal?
Gayatri Gopichand: I think we are completely different people on court. She is very aggressive, while I am a little calmer, and I think that is what makes us complement each other.
When I am feeling a little low or under pressure, she is the one who pumps me up. She'll say, "Come on, show some energy!" So that is how we complement each other.
Our game has also changed over the years. We have started rotating a lot more now, and I feel that has really helped us. I think things have been going really well.
Q: Both of you have had to come through injuries and difficult phases. How difficult was this medal, emotionally, after everything you have been through?
Treesa Jolly: I think after the quarter-finals, everyone could see the emotions that came out from both of us. We had been holding those emotions inside for many years, and suddenly, everything just came out.
Even after the matches, it was difficult for us to process everything. We just couldn't express it properly. There was so much emotion that we felt we needed to let it out, to release everything we had been carrying for so long.
Q: Gayatri, you were a singles player before making the switch to doubles, and then you found Treesa. Do you think that decision has turned out to be one of the best decisions of your life?
Gayatri Gopichand: I always loved playing doubles. Even when I was playing singles, I used to say that I wanted to play doubles as well, including at the national level.
So, after COVID, I had to make a decision between singles and doubles. I chose doubles, and I think it was the right decision because we are doing really well.
Q: And finding Treesa as your partner?
Gayatri Gopichand: That has been amazing. Finding her and having such a great partner has been really special. I think we are both very grateful for everything that has happened.
Q: On a lighter note, Gayatri, if you had to give one fashion tip to Treesa, what would it be?
Gayatri Gopichand: I think she is quite fashionable.
Treesa Jolly: No!
Gayatri Gopichand: She wears a lot of brown clothes and accessories, and I would like to see a little less brown on her.
Q: And Treesa, one food tip for Gayatri?
Treesa Jolly: I think she should try some sushi.
They will be in Japan by this time next month, with plenty of opportunities to sample sushi. The dynamic duo will hope to return with both medal memories and sushi memories.