Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Gopichand Praises Gayatri’s World Championships Bronze and Arjuna Award
Gayatri Gopichand had a very special week in badminton.
She won a bronze medal at the World Championships with her partner Treesa Jolly.
She also received the Arjuna Award.
Her father, Pullela Gopichand, is India’s national badminton coach.
He said he was very proud of her achievements.
He also said he tries to support all his players equally.
India still won a medal, continuing its record at the World Championships since 2011.
Gopichand wants the team to play even better at the Asian Games.
Gayatri Gopichand won her first World Championships bronze in women’s doubles with Treesa Jolly.
Gayatri also received the Arjuna Award in the same week.
Pullela Gopichand said he was proud of Gayatri but felt the same intensity coaching all his players.
Gopichand called India’s World Championships campaign decent despite several narrowly lost matches.
He backed Lakshya Sen to recover and hoped India would perform better at the upcoming Asian Games.
- Who
- Gayatri Gopichand, Treesa Jolly, and India’s national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand were central to the story.
- What
- Gayatri won a maiden World Championships bronze and received the Arjuna Award; Gopichand also assessed India’s campaign.
- When
- The achievements occurred in the same week; India’s World Championships campaign ended on Saturday.
- Why
- Gopichand discussed Gayatri’s achievements, India’s narrowly missed opportunities, and preparations for the Asian Games.
- Medal
- Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly won a maiden World Championships bronze in women’s doubles.
- Award
- Gayatri Gopichand received the Arjuna Award.
- Family honour
- Pullela Gopichand said his family now has two Arjuna Award recipients; he received the award in 1999.
- India’s record
- India has returned with a medal from every World Championships edition since 2011.
- Campaign assessment
- Gopichand described India’s overall campaign as decent, while noting several close defeats.
- Singles results
- PV Sindhu lost narrowly to Wang Zhi Yi in the quarterfinals, while Lakshya Sen exited early.
- Next target
- Gopichand is hoping for a better Indian performance at the upcoming Asian Games.