BWF World Championships: Treesa-Gayatri fairytale run comes to an end, settle for bronze medal
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "BWF World Championships: Treesa-Gayatri fairytale run comes to an end, settle for bronze medal")
Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand in action Photograph: (BAI)
Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly clinch bronze at the BWF World Championships after a spirited semifinal fight against China's world no. 1 pair
India's Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly clinched the bronze medal at the BWF World Championships 2026 after putting up a determined fight against defending champions and world no. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in the women's doubles semifinal on Saturday (August 22). The Indian duo, ranked no. 39 in the world and previously placed inside the top 10, pushed the Chinese pair hard before losing 21-18, 13-21, 8-21 in a match that lasted one hour and 11 minutes at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.
Their bronze medal ensured that India's remarkable record of winning at least one medal at every edition of the World Championships remained intact. Playing before an enthusiastic home crowd, Gayatri and Treesa made a strong start and stunned the defending champions by claiming the opening game. Treesa spearheaded India's attacking play, producing powerful smashes from both the front and rear court. Gayatri complemented her partner with quick movement, precise control and effective midcourt play.
The Indians displayed excellent composure in the first game. Trailing 15-18, they produced a stunning comeback by winning six consecutive points to take the game 21-18. Liu and Tan, however, responded decisively in the second game. The Chinese pair opted for longer rallies and patiently waited for openings rather than attempting to force the pace.
After the score was level at 12-12, the defending champions shifted gears and reeled off eight straight points to win the second game 21-13 and level the match. The Chinese duo carried that momentum into the deciding game, taking control early and denying the Indians an opportunity to reproduce their first-game intensity. Liu and Tan eventually wrapped up the third game 21-8 to book their place in the final.
Despite the loss, the result represents a major achievement for Gayatri and Treesa. Entering the tournament as an unseeded pair, the Indians defeated several highly ranked opponents on their path to the semi-finals. Their bronze medal further underlines the growing strength of Indian women's doubles badminton on the international stage and demonstrates that Gayatri and Treesa have the ability to compete against the world's best.
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