Treesa-Gayatri reach BWF Worlds semis, seal India's first women's doubles medal since 2011
Synopsis
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand did what no Indian women's doubles pair had managed in 14 years — win a BWF World Championships medal. Coming back from a first-game deficit against World No. 4 China, and with Pullela Gopichand coaching from the sidelines, the pair's 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 win is one of the great Indian badminton upsets. And they insist it's not over yet.
Key Takeaways
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated World No.
4 Jia Yi Fan / Zhang Shu Xian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in the BWF Worlds quarterfinal on 21 August .
The win confirms India's first medal at the ongoing BWF World Championships edition.
It is India's first women's doubles Worlds medal since 2011 , when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won bronze.
The Indian pair had lost all three previous meetings against the Chinese duo before this match.
Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand — Gayatri's father — guided the pair courtside, emphasising 'present moment' focus.
Treesa and Gayatri next face top seeds Liu Sheng Shu / Tan Ning of China in the semifinals.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand stormed into the semifinals of the BWF World Championships on 21 August with a stunning comeback victory over World No. 4 pair Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian of China at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 win in 70 minutes confirms India's first medal in the ongoing edition — and the country's first women's doubles medal at the Worlds since 2011.
Historic Comeback Against a Familiar Foe
The Indian pair had lost all three of their previous encounters against the Chinese duo, and the pattern looked set to repeat after they were outplayed in the opening game. But Treesa and Gayatri dug deep, turning the match on its head with composed, patient badminton in the second and third games. The victory makes them only the second Indian women's doubles pair to win a Worlds medal, after Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed bronze 14 years ago.
What Gopichand Told Them Courtside
Chief national coach and former champion Pullela Gopichand — who is also Gayatri's father — guided the pair from the sidelines throughout the tense contest. 'From the start, he was telling that be in the present moment and very calm, because that helped us score the points, and that really worked today,' Treesa said after the match. 'We were just patient and waiting for the right time to score the points.'
Gayatri echoed the sentiment: 'It was a pretty tough match. We were down, trailing, and then even in the second set it was very tricky, but then we told each other to stay calm, and I think that's what we're going to do tomorrow as well.'
The Crowd's Role in the Turnaround
The home crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium played a significant part in fuelling the comeback, according to both players. 'Even after the first set, they were so supportive, and then the chants and everything, I think it gave us a huge boost of confidence,' Gayatri said. Treesa added that the crowd's energy delivered 'positive vibes' that kept them going through the difficult stretches of the match.
What's Next: Top Seeds Await in the Semis
Treesa and Gayatri now face top seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China in the semifinals. The pair have made clear they are not content with a bronze. 'We're really happy that we converted this win into this semifinal and getting a medal, but it's not stopping yet. There are matches coming tomorrow also,' Treesa told reporters. Both players cited the inspiration of Jwala and Ashwini, calling them 'ideals' who 'created history for India in women's doubles.' The semifinal will be a chance to go one better.
Point of View
And Treesa and Gayatri's win over a top-four Chinese pair — in a home crowd atmosphere — signals a genuine generational shift. The Gopichand coaching dynamic adds an unusual dimension: a legendary coach guiding his own daughter to a Worlds medal is a story Indian badminton has never told before. The real measure of this squad's depth, however, will come in the semifinal against the top seeds — a match where the crowd advantage remains, but the margin for error shrinks further.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the scoreline of Treesa-Gayatri's BWF Worlds quarterfinal win?
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in a 70-minute quarterfinal at the BWF World Championships on 21 August. The Indian pair came back after losing the first game.
Why is this win historically significant for India?
The victory confirms India's first women's doubles medal at the BWF World Championships since 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won bronze. Treesa and Gayatri are only the second Indian women's doubles pair ever to win a Worlds medal.
Who do Treesa and Gayatri face in the semifinals?
The Indian pair will face top seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China in the BWF Worlds semifinals. Both players have said they intend to stay calm and give their full effort, just as they did in the quarterfinal.
What role did Pullela Gopichand play in the match?
Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand guided the pair from the sidelines throughout the contest, repeatedly asking them to stay in the present moment and remain calm. Gopichand is also Gayatri's father and has supported her career from its earliest stages.
Had Treesa and Gayatri ever beaten Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian before?
No — the Indian pair had lost all three of their previous meetings against the Chinese duo before this quarterfinal. The BWF Worlds win was their first-ever victory over Jia and Zhang.
