Indian women defied all expectations- or lack thereof – to shock Japan 3-2 and make the finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships. National coach Pullela Gopichand couldn’t help gritting and grinning away when the result finally tilted India’s way. He reckons Thailand won’t have it easy against the Indians in the final.
The Japanese were higher ranked, and these two Indians had lost to them earlier, so it was a big match to win. They could’ve closed it out at 21-15, 21-16 in the third set. But the nature of the event is there’s always little nerves. I’m glad they re-composed themselves and got the win.
Were you wary of the backlash after putting Treesa-Gayatri ahead of Tanisha-Ashwini for first doubles?
No, Tanisha was injured. In hindsight it seems like it was the better way. We wanted to put our best foot forward. Momentum is important in team events, and our best available pairing in Tanisha’s absence had to play within the first three matches. If Tanisha is ready to play against Thailand, both doubles pairs will play on Sunday.
Was there additional pressure at 0-1 down?
Look, each of our players, be it Sindhu, Prannoy, Srikanth, Lakshya, Satwik-Chirag are all trying to do their best. And irrespective of the eventual result, everyone is focussed on winning their match. It’s good to keep a simple, personal goal of winning your match. That applied to Treesa-Gayatri. What’s important was there was good energy in the team for both men and women. It’s good to know everyone is rooting for you.
Did Srikanth’s close, heartbreaking result from yesterday against Japan, leave a hangover?
If there was anyone with a hangover from that match, it was me. But no, it was ok. And he too is fine now. The women were all resting by the time the men’s match got over. We all realize such things do happen and big leads are getting wiped off all the time. We were hopeful of a turnaround.
How do you rate Ashmita’s win against Okuhara?
I haven’t seen her play this well since forever. You realize why everyone tells you there’s immense potential. It was the first time when I was sitting for her back-to-back matches, and I’ve figured out her psyche. You just need to sit there with a stick all the time in her case and keep telling her to not get carried away. And that you don’t need to be fantastic and brilliant all the time, even if you have the strokes. She just needs to be disciplined. And stick around, and she’ll be brilliant. She tends to be very patchy. But I was on her case all the time, and very happy to see her perform.
What do you make of Sindhu’s performance? Also how tough was it on Ashwini?
After their doubles match, my only complaint was that they didn’t have fun on court. They were both trying a lot. But we weren’t exactly expecting them to pull out a miracle. Women’s doubles has become very specific and specialised, and it would be wrong to expect a scratch pair to beat a top Japanese combine. I only wish they had fun. It was more like, if there’s a chance, then go in. Both will do well in the big final I’m sure. Not too fussed about the loss.
Your first impressions of Anmol?
Oh, she was fantastic. I was hoping someone would lose, so we could watch her play a toughie against China. She’s just a breath of fresh air, so innocent and fearless and naturally clever on the court. She would just turn around and ask which serve to use next – high toss or straight. Then she would start the rally and it was so good how she played freely to the corners. She has a natural reading of the game which refreshingly surprised me. The shuttle was flying, A/C was on, drift was present, and she’s confidently pushing the shuttle back. Happily taking instructions. If she got a line call right, she would be so happy with herself. A livewire talent.
What are the challenges ahead for her?
People will obviously read her, find a few gaps, watch how she delivers under pressure. All that will happen. But there’s a natural sense of how she reads the game and smoothness on court that’s inherent. Her physicality will get better though she has enough strokes and punch already. But when you watch her play, it’s a reminder to the world that Indians can be really good at badminton. There’s enormous talent and it just needs some hand-holding.
National coach Pullela Gopichand couldn't help gritting and grinning away when the result finally tilted India's way in a semifinal that started with a dread for the Indians. (Reuters/BAI Media) 
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