BWF World Championships: Treesa-Gayatri, Satwik-Chirag reach quarters; Sindhu, Ayush exit
Synopsis
For the first time in 11 years, an Indian women's doubles pair is in the BWF World Championships quarterfinals — and Satwik-Chirag are there too. With Sindhu out after an 88-minute war and Ayush Shetty eliminated, two doubles pairs now carry India's entire medal-streak legacy into the last eight against Chinese opposition.
Key Takeaways
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand beat seventh seeds Japan 21-16, 21-12 to reach the BWF World Championships quarterfinals — the first Indian women's doubles pair to do so in 11 years .
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Malaysia 21-23, 21-19, 21-17 to also advance to the quarterfinals.
PV Sindhu lost to third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 in an 88-minute contest, ending her bid for a sixth World Championships medal.
Ayush Shetty was beaten 21-19, 21-11 by Alwi Farhan of Indonesia.
India's unbroken World Championships medal streak, dating to 2011 , now depends on the two doubles pairs in the quarterfinals.
Mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also exited, losing 21-16, 21-5 to China's sixth seeds.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand scripted history at the BWF World Championships on 20 August, upsetting seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan 21-16, 21-12 to become the first Indian women's doubles pair to reach the quarterfinals in 11 years. Meanwhile, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty survived a gruelling three-game battle to also book a last-eight berth at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi — even as PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty were eliminated from the tournament.
Treesa-Gayatri Make History
World No. 39 Treesa and Gayatri were dominant throughout their round-of-16 clash, completing victory in just 44 minutes. The pair took an early 13-9 lead in the opening game, weathered a seven-point winning streak from the Japanese duo, and then reeled off eight straight points to clinch the first game. The second game was a more straightforward affair, with the Indians mixing quick drops and crosscourt smashes to keep their opponents off-balance.
No Indian women's doubles combination had reached the World Championships quarterfinals since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa did so at the 2015 edition in Jakarta. Notably, Treesa and Gayatri had broken into the world top 10 earlier this season before injuries disrupted their momentum. 'Initially, it was neck and neck, and our coaches asked us to attack. Attacking game is our strength, and we were very calm when we were leading,' Gayatri said after the match. They will next face fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shi Xian of China.
Satwik-Chirag Grind Out a Thriller
Two-time World Championships bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had to dig deep against Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King of Malaysia, ultimately prevailing 21-23, 21-19, 21-17. The Indians saved two game points in the opening game but still conceded it, before fighting back from 16-18 down to take the second. In the decider, they trailed 12-15, levelled at 17-17, and then closed out with four straight points to seal their quarterfinal place.
Satwik and Chirag will face Chinese third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in the quarterfinals. The pair's win keeps India's medal streak at the World Championships — which began in 2011 — alive heading into the last eight.
Sindhu's Sixth Medal Bid Ends in Heartbreak
Former world champion PV Sindhu fought for 88 minutes but was ultimately beaten 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 by third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China, ending her bid for a sixth World Championships medal. Sindhu struggled for rhythm in the opener, raised her level sharply in the second to win six straight points from 15-15, but could not hold on in the decider despite leading 13-10. The match featured multiple exchanges of over 30 shots, including a 54-shot rally at 17-18, and Wang — who was down on court twice with cramps — ultimately sealed the win with a crosscourt smash.
The defeat also ended Sindhu's unbeaten record against Wang at the World Championships. 'I should have stayed patient in the third game. It was going well, and I am disappointed with the final result as I should have converted the advantage,' Sindhu said.
Ayush Shetty's Giant-Killing Run Comes to an End
Young men's singles contender Ayush Shetty, who had drawn attention for earlier upsets in the tournament, was stopped by Alwi Farhan of Indonesia, losing 21-19, 21-11. The defeat brings the curtain down on a promising campaign for the Indian youngster.
Key Results from 20 August
Men's singles: 7-Victor Lai (CAN) bt 13-Loh Kean Yew (SGP) 22-20, 21-18; Rasmus Gemke (DEN) bt 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) 11-21, 21-13, 21-18; 11-Alwi Farhan (INA) bt Ayush Shetty (IND) 21-19, 21-11; 10-Kodai Naraoka (JPN) bt 8-Li Shi Feng (CHN) 13-21, 23-21, 21-11.
Women's singles: 1-An Se Young (KOR) bt 16-Mia Blichfeldt (DEN) 21-16, 21-10; 3-Wang Zhi Yi (CHN) bt 9-PV Sindhu (IND) 21-11, 15-21, 21-17.
Mixed doubles: 6-Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (CHN) bt 15-Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (IND) 21-16, 21-5.
India's two remaining pairs — Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chirag — now carry the nation's medal hopes into the quarterfinals, where they face formidable Chinese opposition.
Point of View
And this quarterfinal appearance, against a Chinese fourth-seed pair, is a genuine test of whether the pair can sustain beyond a feel-good moment. Sindhu's exit, meanwhile, is harder to parse: an 88-minute, 54-shot-rally battle against a top-three seed is no capitulation, but the pattern of leads surrendered in deciders is one that has defined the later phase of her career. The doubles pairs now carry not just India's medal hopes but the weight of a streak that the singles contingent can no longer protect.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, and why is their quarterfinal significant?
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are an Indian women's doubles pair currently ranked world No. 39. Their quarterfinal berth at the BWF World Championships is significant because no Indian women's doubles combination had reached the last eight since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa did so at the 2015 edition in Jakarta — a gap of 11 years.
Who will Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chirag face in the quarterfinals?
Treesa and Gayatri will face fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shi Xian of China. Satwik and Chirag are set to play Chinese third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. Both Indian pairs face strong Chinese opposition in the last eight.
Why did PV Sindhu lose at the BWF World Championships 2025?
PV Sindhu lost 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 to third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China in an 88-minute match on 20 August. Sindhu held leads in both the second and third games but was unable to convert, with fatigue and unforced errors proving costly in the decider. The loss also ended her unbeaten record against Wang at the World Championships.
What is India's medal streak at the BWF World Championships?
India has won at least one medal at every BWF World Championships since 2011, a streak driven largely by PV Sindhu's five medals. With Sindhu now eliminated, the streak depends entirely on Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chirag advancing from the quarterfinals.
What happened to Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto at the World Championships?
Mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were beaten 21-16, 21-5 by sixth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui of China on 20 August, ending their campaign at the round-of-16 stage.
