Archive · 22 Aug 2026
World Championships bronze gives Treesa and Gayatri new belief
Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly won a bronze medal in women’s doubles badminton.
They reached the semifinals at the World Championships.
They lost there to Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, who are the world’s top-ranked pair and defending champions.
Even though they did not reach the final, their medal was historic for India.
India had not won a women’s doubles World Championships medal since 2011.
Treesa said the achievement made them believe they could do even more.
She also said their Arjuna Award announcement gave them extra encouragement.
Gayatri explained that their earlier match had been mentally tiring.
The pair called the tournament an amazing week with many important lessons.
Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly won India’s landmark women’s doubles bronze at the World Championships.
Their semifinal run ended in a 21-18, 13-21, 8-21 defeat to Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning.
The medal is India’s first World Championships women’s doubles medal since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s bronze in 2011.
Treesa said the result placed the pair among Indian players who have reached the World Championships podium.
The duo said the medal and their Arjuna Award announcement strengthened their confidence for the future.
- Who
- Indian badminton players Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, along with semifinal opponents Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning.
- What
- Gayatri and Treesa won a historic women’s doubles bronze medal at the World Championships.
- When
- During the World Championships; their Arjuna Award announcement came earlier that week.
- Where
- At the World Championships; India’s previous women’s doubles medal was won in London in 2011.
- Why
- Their medal ended India’s wait for a women’s doubles World Championships medal since 2011 and increased their belief in their potential.
- Medal
- Women’s doubles bronze
- Semifinal result
- Lost 21-18, 13-21, 8-21 to Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning
- Previous Indian women’s doubles medal
- Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won bronze in 2011
- Award recognition
- Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly were announced as Arjuna Award recipients earlier that week
- Treesa’s assessment
- She described the tournament as an amazing week with many important lessons
- Gayatri’s assessment
- She said the previous match had been mentally intense and tiring