Historic bronze for India's women's doubles

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand capped a memorable week at the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi with a bronze medal in women's doubles, India's first in the event since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa's bronze in 2011. The unseeded Indian pair, ranked 39th in the world, earned their podium finish after a spirited semifinal against China's Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, the world No. 1 and defending champions.

The semifinal, played on Saturday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, saw the Indians win the opening game 21-18 before the Chinese pair took the next two games 21-13 and 21-8, sealing the match in 1 hour and 11 minutes. Despite the loss, the result assured them of a historic medal, celebrated in front of a packed home crowd. The Indian flag rose on Sunday as they received their bronze medals.

'Dream come true' on home soil

For Treesa, the achievement carried deep personal meaning. "Getting a medal on the global stage and making India proud is kind of a different feeling. And it's an amazing feeling, and it's a dream come true for so many years; it was inside me that needs to get a medal in the World Championship, and it's happening right now on home soil, that is more special," she told ANI.

Gayatri described the week as an "amazing journey" and said she was "super happy" with the bronze. "We'll cherish this medal forever," she said, while acknowledging the disappointment: "It just wasn't our day."

Answering critics with results

Treesa had only recently returned from an ankle injury that sidelined her for three months earlier in the year. With attention largely on PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, there were few expectations from the 39th-ranked Indian pair. However, they accounted for three seeded pairs on their way to the semifinals, including a quarterfinal win over fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, a result that ensured them a medal. The win was cathartic for both players.

"A lot of negativity, everything will come. But at that time, if you take it in your mind, it's not like you are being in the present moment. We both are here to do something big. And we need to just show that we are here to do something. Actually, we did that," Treesa said.

She added: "I think the silent result is everything that we can show. We can't tell people where you are, who you are. At least, what we can show is our result. I think eventually we did that."

Coach and father's guidance

Pullela Gopichand, father of Gayatri and chief national coach, attributed the medal to six weeks of preparation paying off. "It's good to see when the practice you do actually gives you dividends on court," he said.

Gayatri said her father was "extremely emotional and happy" after the win. Gopichand, however, insisted he felt the same for all his players: "There's nothing extra for Gayatri, nothing more than I've had for any of my other players."

He added: "I'm very proud of her performance and her results. And the way she's conducted herself. It's rare. There are two Arjuna awardees in the family now."

Looking to the Asian Games

With the World Championships behind them, the pair turns its attention to the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. Gayatri indicated they would celebrate briefly before returning to training for India's best. Treesa expressed confidence about closing the gap on the Chinese pair, who hold a 7-1 head-to-head advantage. "It's obviously a matter of time. Just believe in yourself that you can beat them," she said.

The run began with wins over pairs from Spain and the USA in the early rounds, building momentum from the Philippines Challenge. Their progress reflects a broader rise in Indian badminton, with young talents emerging on the international stage.

A family legacy

Treesa's journey to the podium began in Cherupuzha, Kerala, where her father, Jolly Mathew, a physical education teacher and volleyball coach, built a badminton court for her at home. He coached her until Class 7, then stepped back as further coaching came from Dr. Anil Ramachandran. In February 2020, joined Pullela Gopichand's academy, where she was later partnered with Gayatri after Covid.

Their 45-day preparation under Gopichand and B Sumeeth Reddy focused on rebuilding after injuries, leading to wins over seeded pairs. Treesa's athleticism and Gayatri's court maturity complemented each other, supporting their belief that a top-three finish was achievable. In the end, the bronze was a testament to the support system behind them.