Treesa-Gayatri’s coach missing from list, WFI finally clears foreign coaches

New Delhi: India’s latest women’s doubles hope, BWF World Championships bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, will head to the Asian Games without their dedicated coach B Sumeeth Reddy, whose name does not figure in the official coaching and support staff list for badminton, while the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has finally agreed to send all three foreign coaches despite its initial reluctance, following a Sports Authority of India (SAI) rebuke.Reddy, a former Olympian who retired in March 2025, has specifically worked with Treesa and Gayatri since then, while also overseeing other women’s doubles players at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. He was a constant presence in their coaching corner at international events and during the recent Worlds in New Delhi, sitting alongside Gopichand and guiding the pair through their matches.Treesa and Gayatri ended India’s 15-year wait for a women’s doubles medal at the Worlds since 2011, producing a string of impressive performances to claim bronze.Their Asian Games place had earlier come under scrutiny after sports authorities questioned their selection against the prescribed criteria, with Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra emerging as alternatives. Badminton Association of India (BAI) defended the selection on rankings and recent performances.TOI contacted a senior federation official to ascertain whether Reddy’s name had originally been forwarded to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as an official women’s doubles coach. A call to a BAI official did not elicit a response.It has been learnt that Gopichand will carry the primary responsibility of guiding Treesa and Gayatri in Reddy’s absence. Tan Kim Her, who specifically works with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, could assist the women’s pair if schedules do not clash. South Korean Yong Sung Yoo, Lakshya Sen’s personal coach has received clearance. Twelve coaching and support personnel have been named for the 20-member badminton team.WFI finally relents on foreign coachesFor wrestling’s 16-member squad, 14 coaching and support personnel have been listed, with all three foreign coaches now set to travel: Georgia’s Emzarios Bentinidis (men’s freestyle), Russia’s Gogi Koguashvili (greco-roman) and Japan’s Kosei Akaishi (women’s team). WFI had initially resisted sending them, preferring Indian coaches over them, but agreed after SAI questioned their omission.Only seven grooms in equestrianAccording to sources, the Equestrian Federation of India’s (EFI) ad-hoc committee had proposed 20 grooms for the eight-member equestrian team, but only seven have received clearance. The 12-member coaching and support staff list includes Nico Wienstroer, Katharina Asbeck, Kyra Anne Jonkers, Jill Van Osselt, Tabea Linhardt, Johanna Aini Katariina Pohjonen and Alyson Renee Roy as the seven grooms. SAI had also sought an explanation over the original proposal, with no groom named for dressage rider Jai Sud or eventing specialist Arjan Nagra.In squash, Willstrop will be foreign coachFormer world No. 1 James Willstrop has been granted the SAI’s clearance to serve as India’s foreign squash coach receiving the nod for the same. The Englishman is expected to arrive in Chennai on Sept 17 before travelling with the team.Hockey without women’s masseuseThe 40-member hockey squad has 14 support staff, and male masseur Arup Naskar is the sole masseur listed.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.