BWF World C'ships: Treesa-Gayatri stun world No. 4 China, seal India's first women's doubles medal since 2011
Synopsis
For the first time in 13 years, India has a women's doubles medal at the BWF World Championships. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand came from a game down to dismantle world No. 4 Ji Yifan and Zhang Shuxian, reviving a legacy last kept alive by Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa in 2011 — and raising the question of whether India can now go all the way.
Key Takeaways
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated world No.
4 Chinese pair Ji Yifan and Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 to reach the BWF World Championships semifinals.
The result confirms India's first women's doubles medal at the World Championships since 2011 , when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won bronze.
The pair are only the second Indian women's doubles combination to win a BWF World Championships medal.
A 7-point winning streak in the decider, from 4-4 to 9-4 , proved the turning point of the match.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (fifth seeds) were set to face Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in the quarterfinals; a win would give them their third World Championships medal.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand delivered one of Indian badminton's most memorable upsets on 21 August, defeating world No. 4 Chinese pair Ji Yifan and Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 to reach the semifinals of the BWF World Championships. The victory confirms a medal for India in women's doubles — the country's first since 2011.
Historic Significance
Treesa and Gayatri become only the second Indian women's doubles pair to win a BWF World Championships medal. The last time India achieved this was in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed bronze — itself a landmark moment that came 28 years after India's maiden World Championships medal, Prakash Padukone's men's singles bronze in 1983.
How the Match Unfolded
The Chinese pair seized early control, racing to a 6-2 lead and maintaining that advantage through the first game. Although Treesa and Gayatri narrowed the gap to 8-9 through powerful smashes and sharper net exchanges, Ji and Zhang held firm to close out the opener 21-16.
The Indians responded decisively in the second game, matching the Chinese in longer rallies and defending under sustained pressure to edge ahead 11-10 at the interval. From there, their cross-court attacks repeatedly stretched the Chinese pair, and they closed out the game 21-15 to force a decider.
The deciding game turned on a pivotal surge. After an even start at 4-4, Treesa landed a powerful smash that triggered a run of seven consecutive points, swinging the score from 4-4 to 9-4. The Indians entered the interval with a commanding 11-5 lead. A brief revival from Ji and Zhang after the change of ends was swiftly quelled, and mounting errors from the Chinese pair allowed Treesa and Gayatri to close out 21-13.
Satwik-Chirag Also in Contention
Later on the same day, men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty — the fifth seeds — were set to face Chinese third seeds Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in the quarterfinals. A victory for the duo would confirm India's second medal at this edition and would be the third World Championships medal for Satwik and Chirag, following bronze finishes in 2022 and 2025.
What This Means for Indian Badminton
This is the first time since 2011 that India has a confirmed women's doubles medal at the sport's most prestigious team-less event. The result underlines the depth that Indian doubles badminton has developed over the past decade, with both the women's and men's pairs now capable of beating the world's best on the biggest stages. All eyes now turn to whether India can convert the semifinal into a final — and potentially gold.
Point of View
Indian women's pairs at the World Championships were largely first- or second-round exits; Treesa and Gayatri have now broken that ceiling. The more pointed question is whether the Badminton Association of India's support infrastructure can sustain this momentum, or whether this will remain an isolated peak. With Satwik and Chirag also in the hunt, a multi-medal haul from a single edition would be the strongest signal yet that India's doubles programme has genuinely arrived.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand achieve at the BWF World Championships?
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand reached the semifinals of the BWF World Championships by defeating world No. 4 Chinese pair Ji Yifan and Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13. This guarantees India at least a bronze medal in women's doubles — the country's first in this category since 2011.
When did India last win a women's doubles medal at the BWF World Championships?
India's previous women's doubles medal at the BWF World Championships came in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won bronze. Before that, India's maiden World Championships medal was Prakash Padukone's men's singles bronze in 1983.
How did Treesa and Gayatri come back to win the match?
After losing the first game 16-21, the Indian pair won the second 21-15 and dominated the decider. A seven-consecutive-point run in the third game — turning a 4-4 scoreline into 9-4 — proved decisive, and they closed out 21-13.
Are Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also in contention for a medal?
Yes. The fifth-seeded men's doubles pair were scheduled to face Chinese third seeds Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in the quarterfinals. A victory would confirm a second Indian medal at this edition and would be Satwik and Chirag's third World Championships medal, after bronzes in 2022 and 2025.
Who are the only other Indian women's doubles pair to have won a BWF World Championships medal?
Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are the only other Indian women's doubles pair to have won a BWF World Championships medal, claiming bronze in 2011. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are now the second such pair in Indian badminton history.
