Dhols, chants and belief: How Delhi turned a World Championships semi-final into a homecoming
The BWF World Championships in New Delhi drew an enthusiastic crowd as local favorites Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Pullela Gopichand competed in the women's doubles semi-final. Despite the loss, the event highlighted the growing popularity and intense atmosphere surrounding badminton in India.
Why it matters
It reflects the rising cultural significance of non-cricket sports in India and the impact of home-ground support on athlete performance.
NEW DELHI: Outside the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Saturday, the thermometer read 33 degrees Celsius. It wasn't difficult to break into a sweat. The road that had been largely empty throughout the week was bustling, and the question on most lips was, 'Where is Gate 7?', 'Bhaiya World Championships ke liye kaunsa gate hai?' [Which gate for the BWF World Championships?]Inside the 15,000-seater facility, half of which was in use for the tournament, the AC had been cranked up. Coincidentally, it matched the intensity and atmosphere of the crowd that had filled the stadium to the brim.The occasion was the women's doubles semi-final featuring Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Pullela Gopichand.
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