Asian Games badminton: Treesa-Gayatri keep India alive in women's team QF
Synopsis
India were staring at elimination in the Asian Games badminton women's team quarterfinal, trailing 0-2 to Japan after singles losses by PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda. World Championships bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand refused to let the campaign die, beating world no. 3 pair Fukushima-Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16 to reduce the deficit to 1-2 and keep the fight alive.
Key Takeaways
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand beat Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16 in the third rubber of the Asian Games women's team quarterfinal on 22 September .
India trailed 0-2 before the win, which reduced the deficit to 1-2 against Japan.
PV Sindhu lost 21-23, 21-18, 21-11 to three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the first rubber.
Unnati Hooda lost in the second rubber despite leading 11-4 in the second game, going down 18-21 .
India's women have won just one Asian Games team medal — a bronze at the 2014 Incheon Games .
In the 2023 Asian Games , India's women were knocked out at the same stage after a 0-3 loss to Thailand.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, the World Championships bronze medallists, kept India's quarterfinal campaign alive in the Asian Games badminton women's team event at Ichinomiya City on 22 September, defeating Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto in straight games in the third rubber. The 21-17, 21-16 win over the world no. 3 Japanese pair was a must-win result for India, who had trailed 0-2 going into the match.
How India Fell to 0-2 Down
The deficit began with the first rubber, where two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu fell 21-23, 21-18, 21-11 to three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu had shown early resilience — overcoming a 6-10 deficit, clawing back from 15-18, and saving a game point to clinch the opening game 23-21. However, Yamaguchi levelled by taking the second game 21-18, then dominated the decider 21-11 to hand Japan the first point.
The second rubber saw Unnati Hooda go down to Yamaguchi, compounding India's trouble. Unnati was ahead 11-10 at the interval in the opening game before losing momentum — her opponent eventually took it 21-16. In the second game, the young Indian built a commanding 11-4 cushion but found herself trailing 15-16 as the finish line neared, and was unable to recover, going down 18-21 to leave India on the brink.
Treesa-Gayatri's Commanding Response
With India's back against the wall, Treesa and Gayatri delivered a composed, controlled performance in the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium. Their 21-17, 21-16 victory over the high-ranked Japanese pair not only reduced the deficit to 1-2 but injected fresh momentum into the Indian camp. The win underlines the pair's growing reputation on the big stage, having already claimed bronze at the World Championships.
Historical Context and What Is at Stake
India's women's badminton team has a modest record in Asian Games team competition, having secured just one medal — a bronze at the 2014 Incheon Games. In the 2023 edition, the team were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage after a 0-3 loss to Thailand. A victory from this position would mark a significant step forward for Indian women's team badminton.
Match Still in the Balance
With the tie poised at 1-2 in Japan's favour following the Treesa-Gayatri win, the remaining rubbers will determine whether India can stage a historic comeback in the quarterfinal. The tie continues at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium, with the Indian team needing two wins from the remaining matches to progress.
Point of View
But the Unnati Hooda collapse — leading 11-4 in the second game and still losing — signals a composure gap that will need to be addressed beyond this tournament. The brighter story is Treesa-Gayatri's temperament under pressure, which is precisely the kind of match-winning doubles pair India has lacked for years. With the tie at 1-2, the margin for error is zero, and the contest exposes both India's depth problem and its rare doubles asset in the same match.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current score in the India vs Japan Asian Games women's badminton team quarterfinal?
India trail Japan 1-2 in the quarterfinal after Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won the third rubber. PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda had lost their respective singles matches, leaving India needing wins in the remaining rubbers to advance.
How did Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand perform in the Asian Games quarterfinal?
Treesa and Gayatri defeated Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16 in straight games in the third rubber, with India down 0-2. The win kept India's quarterfinal hopes alive at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on 22 September.
Why did PV Sindhu lose in the Asian Games women's team quarterfinal?
PV Sindhu lost 21-23, 21-18, 21-11 to three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi. Despite saving a game point to win the opening game 23-21, Sindhu was outplayed in the second and decider games as Yamaguchi's consistency proved too much.
What is India's historical record in the Asian Games women's badminton team event?
India's women have won just one Asian Games team medal — a bronze at the 2014 Incheon Games . In the 2023 Asian Games , the team were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage after a 0-3 defeat to Thailand.
Who is Akane Yamaguchi and why does her win over Sindhu matter?
Akane Yamaguchi is a three-time world champion from Japan and one of the top-ranked players in women's singles badminton. Her straight-sets victory over two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu gave Japan an early 1-0 lead and set the tone for the quarterfinal tie.
