India achieved a historic milestone at the 2026 BWF World Badminton Championships being held in New Delhi, as the unseeded women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured a spot in the semifinals. By advancing to the last four, the duo guaranteed at least a bronze medal for India, breaking a 15-year medal drought in the women's doubles category at the global tournament.
Stunning Comeback After Dropping Opening Game
Playing in front of an energetic home crowd, the Indian combination faced an uphill task initially. Their opponents, China's fourth-seeded pair of Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, took early control of the quarterfinal clash to claim the first game 16-21. Unfazed by the initial setback, Treesa and Gayatri shifted momentum in the second game by displaying sharper net play and executing powerful smashes to turn the tide of the match.
A Hard Fought Victory in 69 Minutes
The intense quarterfinal battle lasted for one hour and nine minutes. The Indian pair leveled the match by winning the second game 21-15 and maintained their relentless pressure in the deciding third game. Capitalizing on their rhythm and seamless court coverage, Treesa and Gayatri closed out the final game 21-13 to complete a memorable 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 victory over the higher-ranked Chinese duo.
Ending a 15 Year Medal Wait
This achievement marks India's first women's doubles medal at the World Championships since 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed bronze in London. After 15 long years, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have etched their names into Indian badminton history by restoring the country to the podium in this category.
