Ian Nepomniachtchi with his tattoos. (Photos taken by Jyotirmoy HALDER from TimesofIndia.com).
BENGALURU – The term “tattoo”, which is associated with body art traditional to that area, may have originated from Polynesian language. European sailors came across Polynesian body art and brought the term back to Europe. Ancient Egyptians tattooed their bodies thousands of years before. Some of the oldest known examples were found on female mummified remains. The researchers suggest their markings could have been used for social, religious or protective reasons. Tattoos are still telling stories millennia after they were first created. Ian Nepomniachtchi is the top-ranking chess master in Russia. Nepomniachtchi (fondly called “Nepo” in the world of chess) was originally scheduled to fly to Bengaluru for the Global Chess League on September 2. He decided to postpone his flight and arrived in Bengaluru on September 4 morning, one day before the beginning of the Global Chess League (GCL). He has missed out on any local sightseeing because of his late arrival, but the city still won him over. The climate is very pleasant compared to the heat I experienced in India. Nepo said, “The place is nice, and yeah. It’s very beautiful,” TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview as his Ganges Grandmasters team opened its GCL season with a win on Saturday. Nepomniachtchi was hard to miss, whether you were in the arena or on a TV screen. They looked more like vibrant paintings, with intricate designs and vivid colours, than the limbs of a Grandmaster. Body art rarely features in the elite circuit, which is known for its pristine jackets, perfectly pressed shirts, and strict sartorial code. GCL is a place where this does not happen. “Normally it is not allowed by the dress codes. Nepo laughed as he revealed his tattoo.
Ian Nepomniachtchi has a tattoo of his name on the right side of his arm. (Photos taken by Jyotirmoy HALDER from TimesofIndia.com).
“Not that many, only two,” he replied when asked. He replied, “Not many. Only two.” His right arm is adorned with a powerful motto. The mantra on his right arm reads: “Rise again and again, like the Phoenix out of the ashes. Until the lambs become lions.” I have the 2023 version. He said, “I think I got this right after I had played the GCL for the first time.” I like the quote. It was something I had wanted for many, many decades. “It’s hard to decide to put something on your skin.” It was surprising how painless the process of tattooing his right hand had been, giving him a false feeling of security. Nepo remembered, “This was so simple.” So, I thought, ok, the full-sleeve might be fine. Why not? A test of patience was put to the test. That “why not?” turned into a transatlantic, agonizing project that tested his endurance. He told the website that his nickname was Lachesis and she is the Greek Goddess of Fate. It took him some time to locate an expert, an artist (who specialized in this) who could create a Greek Goddess. Nepo found the artist he was looking for, who lived in Germany. He revealed that the artist he was working with lives in Munich. It was a logistical challenge, as I am based in Moscow. The eight sessions began in September, ended in April, after which we completed several sessions.
Ian Nepomniachtchi has a tattoo of his name on the left side of his arm. (Photos taken by Jyotirmoy HALDER from TimesofIndia.com).
This full-sleeve can be called a chef-d’oeuvre. The Russian Grandmaster said, “It’s eventually a mixture of ideas,” as he examined the ink. The artist had the idea to use chess-like pieces and a snake as Ouroboros. I did not argue. Nepo was 36 years old and it wasn’t a case of pain no gain for him. He confessed, “This (right) arm was painless and this one (left) was hell.” It’s not a sleeve, but I finished the left arm this year. To be honest, it was painful and took some time.
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For now, pain is enough for me. I was very patient and I endured much. Exclusive Now that the suffering has ended with its completion, he doesn’t plan on returning to the tattoo chair anytime soon. He hopes people will understand the message behind his artwork. He said, with a smile, that he thought it was a phoenix, pointing to his arm.
The End of the Article

India’s top streaming service JioHotstar launched in U.K. Canada and Singapore. It offers more than 160.000 hours of entertainment, available in more than 12 Asian language, with interactive features, personal recommendations, and new subscription options.
According to the company, the expansion goes beyond just a catalog launch. It introduces audiences to a new discovery and viewing process based on personalization and engagement in real time.
Hotstar was the name of this service in Canada, United Kingdom and Singapore. JioHotstar is a brand new app that brings the entire content library of JioHotstar India.
JioStar, the parent company of the platform, is launching it with an original slate of films including Ali Baba Aur Chaalis Bhoot, “Prince of Mollywood,” Part Timers,” and “The Court,” along with blockbuster movies premiering throughout the year.
Variety has confirmed that the Indian Premier League and other cricket tournaments for which JioStar holds the Indian rights will not be included in the launch package.
The reality franchise “Bigg Boss”, which has been a hit in six different languages, is back. For the first time ever, viewers from Singapore, Canada, and the U.K. will be able to vote live during each episode. Canada, the U.K. and Singapore viewers will have access to 24/7 live streaming. Canada can watch Bigg Boss Hindi seven days before its broadcast.
Anil Kapoor, an actor from India, hosts “India Ka 1 Percent”, a game show that will be shown to Canadian and Singapore audiences.
JioHotstar also brings content from JioStar’s TV channels including “Star Plus,” “Colors,” “Star Vijay,” „Asianet,”“Star Jalsha,” and „Star Pravah.” Viewers in Singapore, Canada and the U.K. will have access to shows such as “Anupama,” “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai,”“Seher Hone Ko Hai,” and “Azhagae Azhagu
JioHotstar has a library of over 2,000 titles, including originals like “Criminal Justice,” Special Ops,” Chiraiya,” Pritam & Peter,” Asur,” Aarya,” Heartbeat,” Vikram on duty,” Kerala Crime Files,” Resort,” and “Kaattaan,” as well as reality series such “Koffee With Karan,” Bhojpuri Bhawaal,” Khatron Ke Khiladi,” MTV Hustle,” Splitsvilla
JioHotstar can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store in all three countries. Android users from the U.K. Canada, and Singapore are now able to complete the signup process entirely within the app.
The company offers a new quarterly plan in each of the three markets. This gives subscribers the option to commit for a shorter period, while still enjoying the benefits offered by its annual plans. Hotstar users who download JioHotstar can sign in using their Hotstar credentials and their JioHotstar plan will automatically convert to that JioHotstar level. Existing subscribers in the U.K. can continue to use their monthly plan as long as automatic renewal is active.
The updated pricing is effective September 2. It’s PS19.99 (£27.20), CAD19.99 (14.5$) and CAD49.99 (36.6$) in Canada, and Singapore SGD29.98 (23.6$) and SGD69.98 (55.5$) in Singapore.
It also offers premium quality subtitles in over 12 Asian languages including English, Hindi and Gujarati.
Amit Malhotra is the head of international business at JioStar. He said, “Streaming spent the past decade competing on its size catalogue.” We believe that the biggest opportunity is now to reinvent how the audience experiences entertainment. Not just by what they watch but also how they engage, discover and shape it in real-time. South Asians have an affinity for Indian entertainment, spanning generations, languages and homes. Across the globe, people are seeking out stories and other cultures that go beyond their own. “We see an opportunity to create for this larger, underserved audience around the world – and not just export an Indian streaming services to new markets.”
Malhotra said, “We want to demonstrate what is possible as we grow internationally. We will show you how scale, culture, diversity, individualisation, and audience involvement can be built in from the beginning of streaming.”
JioStar claims that JioHotstar has more than 500,000,000 active users, making it the world’s largest streaming platform. It also points to its product strategy, which includes features like conversational voice search, AI-driven personalized content, and in-app shopping.

According to Edaily and Maeil Business Newspaper, Samsung Electronics will launch the New Galaxy Book6 on South Korea’s September 1, 2026. The 14-inch Windows Laptop is priced between W1.19 and W1.49 Million (approximately $819 and $1,025). Samsung Electronics’ standard Galaxy Book6 line is now priced at W1.02m, which represents a price cut of up to 32%, according to Seoul Economic Daily.
Multiple outlets confirmed that the New Galaxy Book6 was available at Samsung Stores across Korea, via Samsung.com and major Korean online marketplaces. The New Galaxy Book6 arrives as Windows PC manufacturers race to lower prices while component costs rise across the board. Samsung’s announcement is broken down into what was confirmed and unconfirmed. It also explains what the news means for the laptop market in the last months of 2026.
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Samsung Has Just Announced
Samsung announced a new Galaxy Book6 model on September 1. It is marketed as an alternative, more affordable option to its standard line-up launched in 2026. Edaily’s English-language report frames the laptop as an affordable AI PC that is still a value-oriented alternative to its standard lineup launched earlier in 2026. The starting price was reported as 1.19 million won, and it described it as a product available immediately rather than as a reservation or pre-order.
Korean media outlets such as Maeil Business and MoneyToday are all in the same price range of 1.19 to 1.49 millions won, depending on whether the operating system and CPU level is included. Based on the Edaily exchange rate, the lowest price is $819. The top-tier price was not published by Outlets; however, if you use the same conversion method it comes out to around $1 025, although this is more of an assumption than a fact.
According to Maeil Business, and ETNews, the laptop is only available in one 14-inch size (35.6 cm), and gray. This is an incredibly narrow configuration range compared to what Samsung usually offers for launch. It suggests that the New Galaxy Book6 was designed with a focus on price first, and features second.
Pricing Breakdown: New Book6 vs. Standard Book6 vs. Book5
It is helpful to examine the price trajectory of Samsung’s entire Galaxy Book range in the Korean market. It is an unusual pattern: the prices of the Book6 standard model went up dramatically, then Samsung released a cheaper version under the same generational title rather than discounting its existing model.
ModelLaunch TimingStarting Price (KRW)Top Price (KRW)PositioningGalaxy Book5Prior generationW1.37 millionW1.9 millionPrevious-gen mainstream Windows laptopGalaxy Book6 (standard)Early 2026W1.6 millionW2.51 millionUp to 32% pricier than Book5, per Seoul Economic DailyNew Galaxy Book6September 1, 2026W1.19 millionW1.49 millionW410,000 to W1.02 million cheaper than standard Book6
The earlier Seoul Economic Daily report on the Galaxy Book6 standard documented the approximately 30% price increase compared to the Book5 generation. It attributed this rise in part to the broader pressures of cost across the entire PC supply chain. By comparison, the New Galaxy Book6 resets Samsung’s entry-level price below the Book5 while the flagship Book6 remains elevated. MoneyToday’s September 1 coverage attributes the SKU’s goal directly to increasing “the range and price of products with reasonable specifications.” The outlet gives credit to Samsung rather than an individual spokesperson for the language.
The Inside and what we still don’t know
This is the part where coverage becomes thin. No outlet that covered the launch of the New Galaxy Book6, including Maeil Business and ETNews as well as MoneyToday and BusinessPost listed the specific model processor, number of cores or RAM configuration. The reports all state that the final price depends on “CPU” and “OS”, but they do not specify which chipsets are being used or whether Samsung uses AMD or Intel.
This is an important gap in a laptop that’s marketed as having AI capabilities. The only confirmed details were a 14″ display in a gray colourway and the support of Samsung’s Galaxy AI features suite. Both Edaily (South Korea Economic Daily) and Edaily described this feature set as being bundled into the device, despite it costing less. Initial reports did not include information on storage capacities or memory configurations. If you want to compare this laptop with Intel’s Panther Lake platform, Apple’s iPhone 5 or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 2X Elite in our previous chip benchmarking comparison, then wait until Samsung releases its full specs sheet.
Galaxy AI Battery Life Features
Samsung has focused on battery life as the most important performance indicator. Edaily, Maeil Business and other outlets tout a battery life up to 25-hours. This is a big selling point for the budget laptops. This figure was not independently confirmed by a third-party laboratory at the time this report. Outlets did not reveal the workload or battery capacity that they used to arrive at their estimate.
The New Galaxy Book6 is compatible with Samsung’s Galaxy AI software suite. This feature set has been extended to the budget laptop line, as well as its phones, tablets, and other products. This is described by multiple outlets as being the main differentiator between the Samsung Windows laptop and other Windows computers in the same price range. However, none of the outlets have detailed the Galaxy AI features that are included natively or which ones require a Samsung Account.
Why Samsung needed a cheaper book6
Timing is important. The standard Galaxy Book6, which Seoul Economic Daily reported as having prices that were up to 32 percent higher than those of the Book5, was launched in a market with memory and storage component costs increasing across industries through 2026. Samsung’s flagship strategy could push it out of the low-end market, leaving rivals with entry-level Windows devices or Chromebook class devices.
By introducing a cheaper Book6 version, rather than discounting its original model, Samsung can keep the margins on the flagship intact while still offering a product in the lower-priced bracket of the market where AI PC marketing is largely lacking. BusinessPost’s article frames Samsung’s strategy as expanding its “value-oriented notebook” lineup. The outlet credits the language to Samsung’s positioning, rather than a specific executive.
You can buy it where you want to, but not everywhere
The launch on September 1 was described by every outlet as strictly a South Korean release. Samsung Stores across the country, Samsung.com and other major Korean marketplaces sell The New Galaxy Book6. No mention is made in any of these reports about a US or European release date, nor a wider Asian one. The current coverage does not confirm local availability or pricing for readers outside Korea. Any claim that a certain international launch date is imminent would only be speculative reporting.
Samsung’s low-cost hardware is not an exception to this pattern. Before deciding to launch a new product tier, the company tested its value position in their home market.
Windows AI PC Price War: A Broader Spectrum
Samsung’s decision is part of a larger price war in the Windows PC market. The component costs are expected to remain volatile until 2026. Several chipmakers used this backdrop as a justification for their price changes. This dynamic is visible with Nvidia’s own RTX prices on the GPU market. Laptop OEMs cannot pass on costs indefinitely, as GPU manufacturers can, without losing customers who would never have paid flagship prices.
This tension is why Samsung decided to release a second SKU rather than adjust the Book6 standard price. This puts additional pressure on Lenovo Acer and Asus who have reserved the “AI PCs” brand for machines above $900 in order to preserve margins of Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen AI processors. Samsung’s entry-level W1.19m price point is popular in Korea. This will put pressure on competitors to either match this or justify why they charge more for their AI-branded laptops with similar battery life and features.
Galaxy Book6 – How it compares to its Rivals
Samsung is yet to reveal the New Galaxy Book6’s chipset, making it difficult for users to compare the New Galaxy Book6 directly with other budget AI laptops. The confirmed facts show that the New Galaxy Book6 is positioned as a 14-inch, one-color machine, sold solely on the basis of price, battery life, and Galaxy AI support rather than raw computing specs.
Apple has always relied on performance claims based on its custom silicon, and most recently, the launch of the Mac M6 Ultra. Samsung’s bet is that the bundled AI and battery life, rather than benchmark scores, are what will drive sales at this price point. Samsung’s bet will depend heavily on the specs it hasn’t yet released, as well as whether or not reviewers have access to units.
Galaxy Book Line: A Brief History
Samsung’s Galaxy Book line has spent several generations trying to carve out shelf space against Windows heavyweights like Lenovo’s ThinkPad series and HP’s Spectre line, while also fending off Apple’s MacBook Air in the premium-thin-and-light category. Book5 was priced between W1.37 and W1.9, which made it affordable without being the lowest option in Korean stores.
Seoul Economic Daily estimated that the jump could be as high as 32%. This increase was attributed to rising PC component costs, rather than premiumization. Samsung’s New Galaxy Book6, which arrived just months after, split the Book6 into two separate products, under a single name. This was a major structural shift from previous generations.
Samsung PC Business: Market Impact
Samsung PC has not reached the same scale as its memory chip or mobile businesses. But a budget AI laptop is important for another reason. It keeps Galaxy AI and, by extension, Samsung’s wider software ecosystem in front of customers who would otherwise never consider a Samsung Notebook. Each New Galaxy Book6 is a device that shares the AI features Samsung uses across its Galaxy smartphones and tablets. This reinforces cross-device usage habits, rather than creating profit for a laptop division.
Cannibalization is a risk BusinessPost, and many other media outlets, have not addressed directly. Budget-conscious shoppers will be tempted to buy a laptop that costs W1,19m, which is just one generation away from the flagship W2,51m. This could lead them to purchase a cheaper model and reduce Book6 sales instead of attracting new customers. Samsung does not have unit sales goals or split numbers for these two SKUs. The actual mix of demand will be revealed in the subsequent quarter reporting.
New Galaxy Book 6 at a Glance
DetailNew Galaxy Book6Launch dateSeptember 1, 2026 (South Korea)Starting price (KRW)W1.19 millionStarting price (USD, approx. )~$819Top price tier (KRW)W1.49 millionTop price tier (USD, approx., inferred)~$1,025Display14-inch (35.6 cm), single sizeColor optionsGray onlyClaimed battery lifeUp to 25 hoursAI featuresGalaxy AI suite supportedChipset / RAMNot disclosed in initial reportsAvailabilitySamsung Stores, Samsung.com, online marketplaces (Korea only)
In the background, trade and tariff pressure
Samsung launches its first Korea-first laptop at a price conscious launch, while US trade policies adds another layer to uncertainty in the pricing of laptops worldwide. The proposed US tariffs for laptops and server have caused concern amongst manufacturers that cost increases on the US border could lead to price increases in other markets. Samsung did not comment on whether or how tariffs impacted the New Galaxy Book6 pricing strategy. Neither the media outlets that covered the launch directly linked the two developments. Even so, future US expansions of this low-cost SKU would be a direct result of the tariff discussion.
The Next 5 Predictions
Samsung is likely to publish the full specifications of the New Galaxy Book6’s chipsets and RAM in a regional follow-up press campaign, as the original Korean coverage was notable for omitting them.
Within the next two years, expect at least one Windows OEM to launch its own AI-branded sub-W1.5 million or sub-$900 laptop.
Samsung may face pressure from within if South Korean sales figures look strong until Q4 2026. This could be India, or other price sensitive Asian markets, but this is not confirmed.
Samsung could be forced to revisit its price point before the launch of Galaxy Book 2 if global memory chip prices continue to rise.
Analysts are watching closely to see if the New Galaxy Book6 is able to pull sales from the more expensive standard Book6 instead of expanding Samsung’s addressable market. This cannibalization threat has not been addressed in any current media coverage.
The Bottom Line
Samsung’s New Galaxy Book6 was a simple bet. It would undercut the price of its flagship Book6 by as much as W1.02m, rely on the Galaxy AI brand and a battery life claim up to 25 hours, then see if Korean customers who were unhappy with the Book6 standard’s steep increase in cost, might consider a lower-priced version under the same title. This strategy avoids any public pricing cut for the current flagship, while giving Samsung an edge in the AI-PC budget bracket. Rivals in the AI chip market below $900 have mostly ignored this segment.
The processor, memory configuration and plans to sell outside South Korea are all missing. Samsung must fill in these gaps before the New Galaxy Book6 can be considered a hardware product.
FAQs
What is the price of New Galaxy Book6 in South Korea
According to Maeil Business Newspaper and Edaily and other Korean outlets, the starting price is W1,19 million, but can rise to W1,49 million based on CPUs and operating systems. According to Edaily’s exchange rate, the price range is from W1,19 million to approximately $1,025, depending on CPU and operating system.
Does the New Galaxy Book6 come outside South Korea?
There has not been any confirmation of international availability. The launch on September 1 was described by every outlet as being a South Korean-only product sold via Samsung Stores and Samsung.com. Also, there were domestic online marketplaces.
What is the chip used in New Galaxy Book6?
Samsung did not disclose the exact processor. Korean media only mention that prices vary by “CPU” and “OS,” but do not specify a manufacturer, chip family or core count.
What is the difference between the New Galaxy Book6 and the Galaxy Book6 standard?
Seoul Economic Daily reports that it is priced between W410,000 and W1.02million less than the range of W1.6 million toW2.51million for standard Book6. Prices for the standard Book6 were up to 32 percent higher than those of the Galaxy Book5.
How big is the screen and what colors are available?
According to Maeil Business & ETNews, the New Galaxy Book6 is available in one 14″ (35.6 cm), gray-colored display option.
How long is the battery claimed to last?
Samsung says that the battery can last up to 25-hours, according to Edaily and Maeil Business. This estimate was not published by independent lab tests at the time the device launched.
Is the New Galaxy Book6 compatible with Galaxy AI?
Yes. Edaily, Seoul Economic Daily and other outlets confirm that the laptop is compatible with Samsung Galaxy AI features despite it being a lower-priced model.
Has Samsung commented on the reason it released a Book6 at a lower price so quickly after its standard model?
MoneyToday, BusinessPost and Samsung themselves have all echoed the same message, stating that the new launch will give consumers more choice, with “reasonable specs and prices”. Samsung, however, has yet to issue a statement in English addressing this pricing disparity.
Other Coverage

Synopsis
Hindustan Copper’s government OFS has received strong interest from non-retailers, with offers reaching 3,41 times what was offered. The Centre is exercising the greenshoe, which could increase the stake to 6%. Retail bidding will begin on August 26.
On Tuesday, the government’s sale of Hindustan Copper Ltd was well received by non-retailers. The issue was subscribed three times over. The OFS, according to data from the exchange, received bids of 8.91 crore against 2.61 million shares offered, which translates into a subscription rate of 3,41. Shares were sold at Rs 514 per share.
According to data provided, the stock traded at Rs. 531.40 above the floor price of OFS. Investors were attracted by the discount on market prices.
The government has decided to exercise its greenshoe option in response to the overwhelming response. The Centre offered to sell 3% of Hindustan Copper with the option of selling an extra 3% if there was a high demand.
Base offer consisted of 2.61 crores shares. The greenshoe offer allows the stake to be sold up to 6%.
On Wednesday, 26 August retail investors can bid. On August 25, the OFS was opened to non-retailers. Retail investors will receive 10% of this issue under the current offer structure. A further 25,000 shares were reserved for employees.
Live Events
OFS forms part of government disinvestment program. Hindustan Copper, a copper-producing state company under the Ministry of Mines is run by Hindustan Copper.
Investors are closely monitoring the copper demand due to its application in electric vehicles, power infrastructure, solar energy, data centers, and industrial manufacturing.
The government can now sell a bigger stake via the greenshoe route. Investors will now be focusing on the retail demand for Wednesday, and the size of the sale stake after allotment.
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Pullela wentpichand did not rush to leave on Saturday night.
Former All England Champion, Chief National Coach and one of India’s most influential badminton figures, he had just seen his daughter Gayatri and Treesa win World Championships Medals in Delhi. The former All England champion stood under the lights of the arena in the mixed zone, answering questions well after other coaches had left. He spoke with pride, and a rare quality for someone who is usually so serious courtside. He made jokes with the organizers. He answered slowly. He seemed content to stand and enjoy the moment.
One day later, a father from another room spoke of the same award.
Jolly Mathew, from Kerala was calling from Cherupuzha. This small village in Kerala’s north had no badminton court until Jolly built it himself. His voice was full of pride and disbelief as he spoke about his daughter’s journey from the courtyards in Kannur to the podium at the World Championships in the capital. He spoke with pride and disbelief, as a man who watched from afar, how years of unglamorous, quiet work had finally paid off in front of everyone in the country.
Gopichand is familiar with this tale, which he tells every time he hears his name: The All England victory of 2001, Saina, PV Sindhu and Olympic Medals. World Champions, too. An academy in Hyderabad built out of nothing. Since the early 1990s, his name has become a part of Indian badminton’s history.
Jolly Matthew tells his story in his words.
The Volleyball Court
In Cherupuzha in Kannur, he was an experienced volleyball coach and teacher of physical education. He had a volleyball pitch in his courtyard where he would train young players at night. The thuds of the ball hitting the packed soil was an everyday sound.
Treesa’s elder sister and she grew up on the sidelines.
Mathew was immediately convinced that his two daughters would enjoy volleyball. After all, they grew up watching the game every night, just a few steps from their door. As he observed them, he started to consider what might be appropriate for a young child.
She was very passionate about sports. Mathew, who spoke to IndiaToday.in on behalf of Mathew’s daughter, said: “She was a very active girl. She loved sports and wanted to be involved.”
She would come and watch me train the girls and then play volleyball. She showed great interest in everything.
Since badminton can be played at a young age, it seemed like a good game for her. I introduced her to the sport.
The volleyball coach knew badminton well, having played a bit of it himself. He became the coach by almost accident for a single audience.
Mathew explained, “I felt that I would bring her into the game if I were training children in the neighborhood.” Mathew said, “I was looking for a sport that would suit her. I had played some badminton, so badminton came to mind.”
The only problem was that there were no badminton courts in Cherupuzha. Cherupuzha had no badminton court.
He built a new one.
He said, “There weren’t any courts around our home so I made one and taught her in it.”
The original volleyball court was repurposed.
My father is a volleyball player, so we have a court of volleyball in the backyard. Treesa, a BAI reporter on Sunday, said that at the time many players took up badminton. So he converted it to a badminton for her and me.
The monsoon rains in Kerala made an outdoor court useless for the first half of the year. A tarpaulin was put over it and now the rain is just one more obstacle that needs to be overcome.
The hardest problem was money. It was impossible to avoid it.
We did not initially understand this. Mathew explained that they attended a state tournament, and later realized how it worked.
The Kerala state team was selected through ranking tournaments held across the entire state. Each one demanded travel expenses, entry fees and equipment as well as time taken away from the modest salary of a teacher.
We had to go to these events.”
There was no sponsor to soften the blow.
We faced many financial problems. No one sponsored us, not the association nor anyone else. “We had to pay for the costs ourselves.”
Treesa also remembers these years, but what she most recalls is the feelings her father refused to allow her to feel.
The initial days were tough. We had to deal with a lot financial hardships because it was a costly sport. “I think that my father never put me under those pressures,” said the woman.
When your parents tell you you can play at this level, you gain confidence. They are amazing! “I am where I am because of my parents.”
She was taught by him until she reached Class 7. He stepped down without fuss because he knew that if he had stayed on, it would have been against his daughter.
There is only one PV SINDHU
Treesa had a great report card, and every door was open to her. She scored well in the Plus Two exam. She could have taken the well-worn Kerala path, which included a doctorate, an engineering degree, and a steady government position, had she so desired.
Mathew was the only one who understood what was being said. The more Mathew watched his daughter play on the tarpaulin court, the less appealing that path seemed.
He said, “We all had ambitions.”
But I didn’t see sport as a way to find a job. “I saw sport as a way to improve health and fitness, while also having fun.”
This thinking then became more and more pronounced.
How many doctors are there? He asked. He asked. How many Indian footballers can there be?
It was not modest ambition that he had for her. First, I want you to be an Indian. Then, you’d like to make it to the World Championships or the Olympics.
In his own words, he undersold the beauty he perceived in her.
She wanted an Olympic medal. “She wanted to win an Olympic medal.”
By then, he had already seen that his daughter was carrying something unusual.
If you are able to study, then you could become a collectible. It is possible to have thousands of collectors. There are only a few medalists who reach this level. Only one PV Sindhu exists. “There cannot be more than one PV Sindhu.”
Mathew had no idea that a single decision he made ten years later would inspire an entire community.
“And I believe my father is the Star.” He’s the star. There was no court in my village when I first started playing. After the Commonwealth Games, there are so many more courts. The majority of students come to me. Everyone is excited to play. My village is awash with players. It was a simple clay court before.
KNOWING WHEN TO LET GO
Mathew took his daughter only as far as was reasonable. Mathew knew that going further would mean giving her away to another person.
Treesa was taken in by Dr Anil RAMACHANDRAN, the head of sport at Kannur University, a badminton expert. Ramachandran, who was the head of sports at Kannur University and a badminton specialist, arranged a house near the university. He coached Treesa from Class 8 to Class XI. This was the time when she rose to professional level in badminton.
Gopichand followed the national camp. Treesa’s international medal and junior ranking led to her being accepted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme. She reported in February 2020 to Gopichand’s senior camp, while still in Plus One.
The journey began on an unpaved patch in Cherupuzha and reached the top of the Indian system.
It will turn again in 2021.
Two different buildings
Treesa was paired with Gayatri not long after Covid ended. Coaches at the academy had been experimenting to find combinations of juniors who were promising. Treesa played at the rear of the court. Gayatri lived in the front. It made perfect sense on paper before the shuttle was even hit.
Both girls came from different ends of the nation and had very different backgrounds.
Gayatri grew up with her father’s name, which opened doors for her before she had earned the right. It also closed any chance of being considered ordinary. Treesa grew up in a small town, where her father had built the only badminton courts available.
The two are equally important.
Gayatri is not shy about discussing her condition.
She said, “I think I feel pressure sometimes when I’m on the court.”
“I would not say that I do, but it is obvious there are many people who can guide you.” “And that’s the best part.”
She has learned to wear it in a different way over time.
Many people tell me that I am Gopi Sir’s daughter. It’s up to you. “But honestly, I feel much better.” “There is pressure but I know how to deal with it.
Treesa was a completely different weight. It wasn’t about her trying to prove she deserved her name. Instead, it was about her wanting to honor what her parents had done for her.
In the following years, these two stories merged on all courts around the globe.
Together, they reached two All England semifinals. The pair won a medal at the Commonwealth Games. The pair became India’s top women’s doubles team, and were hailed as the brightest hope for India’s future.
A question still hung in the air long after their results indicated that they had outgrown this. This pair is so impressive by Indian standards. Could they be even better by world standards?
The power is always there
In Delhi, the answer came in a cracking sound that was instantly recognisable by the entire arena: the Treesa Jolly smash hitting flush.
She became the talk of the World Championships for her power. The commentators were always referring to her force from the deep backcourt. It was a physicality which felt out of place for the wristy, delicate world of badminton doubles. The Indians had a powerful weapon that few other teams could match.
Her roots go back much further than any Delhi-based spectator would think, all the way to that volleyball court built by her father.
Treesa explained that “my jump smash is also possible because my father made me start by training with volleyball drills,”
When I was in class I, I used to do the jump serve for volleyball. “I had this strength.”
Without realizing it, the volleyball coach, who trained children from his neighbourhood in the backyard of his home, had built one Indian badminton’s most terrifying weapons.
Mathew recognized her aggression long before she could do anything useful with it.
He said, “She’s always been full of energy and power.”
She is just being her natural self.
Over the years, at the top level, what changed was the form around this raw power. The control, timing, and disguise all changed. It remained exactly the same, waiting to be given a large enough stage.
And then DELHI
The pair arrived in Delhi following a season that was disrupted by Treesa’s injury, which kept her out of competition for nearly three months. This pushed the team down to lower rankings. The 45-day training under Gopichand & B Sumeeth reddy allowed the two to rebuild. Gayatri took on a greater amount of responsibility in the backcourt, while Treesa returned with her power.
Gayatri explained, “It’s going to be hard for her to return after an injury and cover such a large area.”
Treesa improved at net. She was getting ready to become the deadly version she had shown in Delhi.
The seventh seed was beaten to a pulp. The fourth seed, which was a Chinese duo they’d never beaten before, were thrashed. In the semi-finals, the pair won the first game against the top-ranked world-ranked duo.
Bronze was the medal awarded. The colour was almost irrelevant by then. Gayatri was able to make the top pair of players uncomfortable by standing across from them for an entire match. They had answered the question that had been nagging them for many years about their ability to be better than India’s top pair.
Gopichand spoke to his daughter in the mixed area on Saturday. Insisting that he didn’t feel any extra pride because his daughter was there, he said adamantly that if she were to be her son – oh well. The pride in his voice was unmistakable.
Mathew read his article on Sunday in Kerala, some 2000 km south. Mathew spoke about a young girl who was only a month into her training when she walked in to a World Championships.
Gopichand’s story inspired a whole nation to believe that badminton can produce champions. Jolly Mathew, who is quieter and more relaxed, only has to inspire one village. You can still see the court that Treesa started when you drive into Cherupuzha. A single court became many. One girl won a medal at the World Championships.
The Ends