1 week ago
Treesa-Gayatri Stun Japan Pair, Reach World Championships Quarterfinals
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are an Indian badminton team.
They played Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi at the 2026 World Championships.
The Japanese pair was seeded seventh and had won bronze at the 2025 edition.
Treesa and Gayatri won both games, with scores of 21-16 and 21-12.
Because they won two games in a row, they did not need to play a third game.
Their fast and attacking style helped them beat Japan’s defensive shots.
The victory sends them to the quarterfinals, which are the tournament’s final eight.
They had also won their earlier match against the United States and were named among the 2025 Arjuna Award recipients.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Japan’s seventh-seeded Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi 21-16, 21-12.
The Indian women’s doubles pair advanced from the Round of 16 to the 2026 BWF World Championships quarterfinals.
The world No. 39 duo returned after an injury layoff lasting 2.5 months.
They used speed, attacking play and strong back-court hitting to counter Japan’s drops and lifts.
Treesa and Gayatri had earlier beaten U.S. 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Lee and were also named 2025 Arjuna Award recipients.
- Who
- India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi.
- What
- The Indian women’s doubles pair won its Round of 16 match in straight games and reached the quarterfinals.
- Where
- The match was reported at Indira Gandhi Arena or Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, India.
- When
- Thursday during the 2026 BWF World Championships; the earlier Round of 32 match was played Tuesday.
- Why
- The win advanced the Indian pair to the tournament’s final eight and kept India’s medal chances alive.
Key facts
- Event
- 2026 BWF World Championships
- Match
- Women’s doubles Round of 16
- Result
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won 21-16, 21-12
- Opponents
- Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan, the seventh seeds and 2025 bronze medallists
- Indian ranking
- World No. 39
- Previous round
- The Indian pair defeated U.S. 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Lee 21-15, 21-12 in the Round of 32
- Additional recognition
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were named among the 17 recipients of the 2025 Arjuna Award
Sources
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