New Delhi, August 21, 2026: India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand scripted history at the BWF World Championships 2026, securing the country’s first women’s doubles medal at the tournament since 2011.
The unseeded world No. 39 pair produced a stunning comeback to defeat fourth-seeded Chinese duo Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in the quarterfinals at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.
After losing the opening game, Treesa and Gayatri raised their intensity to take the second game 21-15. They then dominated the decider, winning 21-13 to book their place in the semifinals and guarantee a historic podium finish.
Their impressive run began with a comfortable 21-9, 21-13 victory over Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez in the Round of 64. They then defeated 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Lee of the USA 21-15, 21-12.
In the Round of 16, the Indian pair stunned seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan 21-16, 21-12.
The achievement marks India’s first women’s doubles World Championships medal since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won bronze in 2011.
India could add another medal, with fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty set to face China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in the men’s doubles quarterfinals later on Friday.
