India’s Treesa-Gayatri End 15-Year Wait for Women’s Doubles World Medal

India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand scripted a memorable chapter in the country's badminton history, becoming the first Indian women's doubles pair in 15 years to secure a medal at the BWF World Championships.

The unseeded Indian duo, ranked world No. 39, produced a sensational comeback to defeat fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian of China 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in the quarterfinals on Friday, guaranteeing themselves at least a bronze medal.

After losing the opening game, Treesa and Gayatri showed remarkable composure and determination to turn the contest around. The Indian pair raised its intensity in the second game before completely taking control in the decider, stunning one of the tournament's top-ranked combinations.

The victory is particularly significant as it ends India's long wait for a women's doubles medal at the World Championships and ensures that the country's medal-winning streak at the prestigious event continues, with India having won at least one medal at every edition since 2011.

For Gayatri, the daughter of national coach Pullela Gopichand, the achievement marks another major step in her growing international career. Treesa's journey has been equally inspiring after she battled back from a serious ankle injury earlier this year.

The pair will now face the formidable world No. 1 combination of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning in the semifinals as they chase a place in the final and an even bigger piece of history.

Playing in front of passionate home fans, Treesa credited the crowd for giving the Indian pair the confidence to fight back after a difficult start.

With a World Championships medal already assured, Treesa and Gayatri have turned a historic breakthrough into one of Indian badminton's most inspiring moments on home soil.