By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
After securing impressive three set victories against the World No. 2 and No. 6 pairs, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand faced a swift second set defeat against the World No. 4 pair, Japanese duo Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. The 23-21, 21-11 loss was not disheartening and can be seen as a significant positive for the Indian pair, showcasing their fighting spirit against top ranked teams. However, the match also highlighted how quickly things can change as top combinations assert their dominance, resulting in a straightforward semifinal exit.
In the second set, the Indian pair struggled, going down 6-20 as errors accumulated. Their successful body smashes and net interceptions from the first set failed to gain points. Despite the narrow loss of the first set at 21-23, the Indian's performance deteriorated as the Japanese capitalized on their errors and gained points with ease.
At 2-11, the Indians seemed stuck, while the Japanese pair accumulated points effortlessly. However, a sudden five point streak showed that the Indians could have countered more effectively had they regrouped sooner. In the first set, they had shown resilience, coming back from a 2-8 deficit as they began to settle and disrupt the Japanese tempo with effective rotations and defensive plays. Gayatri Gopichand’s winners and Treesa Jolly’s powerful smashes played crucial roles in their initial comeback.
As the Indians adapted, they forced the Japanese into high lifts, gaining extra time and disrupting the fast exchanges. Gayatri's strategic flat shots and Treesa’s varied attacks kept the Japanese on their toes, narrowing the gap from 8-2 to 12-9. Treesa's subtle variations, such as soft drops, confused Matsuyama, creating opportunities for the Indian pair to exploit.
A standout moment came at 15-16, where the Indians executed a long rally with excellent defense and strategic lifts, culminating in a middle court smash by Treesa. They continued to pressure the Japanese with body attacks, drawing close at 18-19. Despite an overhit by Gayatri handing a set point to the Japanese, she quickly recovered, opening up the front court and tying the score at 20-20. Although Treesa’s wide strike and the Japanese experience ultimately secured the first set for the opponents, the Indian pair's resilience was evident.
The second set saw the Indians overwhelmed before they could recover from the first set. Nevertheless, reaching the Super 750 semifinals alongside top ranked teams was a significant achievement. At this stage of their careers, more losses than wins are expected, but maintaining confidence despite setbacks is crucial as they move on to the next challenge in Indonesia.