Indian women’s doubles badminton pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand scripted history on Friday by storming into the semifinals of the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi. This assured the host nation of its first medal at the tournament. The young Indian duo staged a sensational three-game comeback in the quarterfinals. Specifically, they defeated China’s formidable fourth-seeded pairing of Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian to guarantee at least a bronze medal. In doing so, they ended India’s 15-year wait for a women’s doubles podium finish.
Sensational Comeback Stuns Fourth-Seeded Chinese Giants
The Indian pair mounted a resilient fightback after dropping the opening game against the higher-ranked Chinese duo. After conceding the first game 16-21, Treesa and Gayatri raised their intensity. They utilized aggressive baseline smashes and precise net play to seize momentum.
They comfortably clinched the second game 21-15. Moreover, they dominated the deciding third game from the opening rallies, wrapping up a memorable 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 victory in 68 minutes.
Ending a 15-Year Drought Since Jwala-Ashwini in 2011
This landmark victory marks only the second time an Indian women’s doubles pair has secured a medal at the prestigious BWF World Championships.
India’s only previous women’s doubles medal came in London in 2011. At that event, the trailblazing duo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa clinched bronze.
Treesa and Gayatri’s historic run follows their impressive Round of 16 triumph over Japan’s seventh-seeded pair Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi. Therefore, they have cemented their reputation as giant-killers on the global stage.
Carrying Indian Hopes Forward on Home Soil
The quarterfinal triumph provided a massive boost to Indian badminton. This came following the early exits of top singles players, including PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty.
Backed by an electric home crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Treesa and Gayatri demonstrated maturity and tactical discipline. They also showed exceptional defensive coverage under pressure.
The Indian pair will now compete in Saturday’s semifinals. They are aiming to upgrade their assured bronze medal into a historic championship final appearance.
Curated news reports, in-depth analysis, and special features by India’s Opinion editorial team.
