BWF World Championships 2026: Treesa-Gayatri Settle For Bronze After Losing Against World No 1; India's Run At Competition Ends

The Indian run at the BWF World Championships 2026 ended in the semifinals as Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand were defeated by the World No 1 pairing of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning from China in the semifinals of the Women's Doubles Finals.

Although the Indian pair lost in the semifinals of the BWF World Championships 2026, the duo was assured a bronze medal. It was the 15th medal for the Indians at the World Championships, since the Indian contingent started winning medals back in 2011.

It was a closely fought game, and the Indians had shown a lot of spark in the first game. But, gradually as the game progressed, the Chinese found their mojo and were reading the game of their opponents better.

Gayatri's Explosive Power Coupled With Gayatri's Defensive Solidarity

The Chinese pair made a strong comeback from 2-7 to level the score at 7-7 and then moved ahead 12-7. India, however, adjusted well and began disrupting the Chinese rhythm.

Treesa Jolly's explosive play was central to India's recovery. She was effective at the net with sharp interceptions and also used her power from the mid-court to create openings. Gayatri Gopichand focused on maintaining defensive stability, particularly on the backhand side, while waiting for opportunities to counterattack.

At 19-18, India increased the pace and targeted the Chinese defence with aggressive smashes. The strategy paid off as Treesa and Gayatri won five consecutive points to take the opening game 21-18.

Chinese Come Back Strongly In Game 2

The Chinese started the second game with a 4-1 lead, but India gradually reduced the deficit by increasing the attacking pressure. Gayatri became more aggressive from the rear court, while Gopichand also looked to take the shuttle early at the front.

At 8-6, India showed another tactical variation by breaking the rhythm of longer rallies with sudden changes of pace. They repeatedly pushed the shuttle towards the sidelines and brought the score to 10-10.

The Chinese, however, changed their approach. Instead of allowing India to dictate shorter exchanges, they extended the rallies and moved Treesa and Gayatri around the court. This increased the number of unforced errors from the Indian pair.

Liu and Tan then produced an eight-point winning run to take the game 21-13. Their improved control at both the front and back of the court made it difficult for India to reproduce the attacking patterns that had worked in the opening game.

Curb On Treesa-Gayatri's Rotation In Third Game

The Chinese carried their momentum into the decider and appeared better prepared for India's attacking combinations. They began using smashes and interceptions to prevent Treesa and Gayatri from establishing themselves at the front of the court. It also curtailed their smooth rotation on the court.

The Chinese moved into an 8-3 lead before extending it to 11-5 at the interval. They continued targeting the Indian pair in the mid and back court, forcing them into longer exchanges and limiting Treesa's opportunities to intercept at the net.

At 16-7, the tactical battle had clearly shifted in China's favour. Their ability to keep India away from the front court reduced the effectiveness of the sudden changes in pace that had helped the Indians in the first game. India needed a major turnaround to regain control of the decider.