Indian Doubles Teams Shine at BWF World Championships

In a thrilling display at the BWF World Championships, Indian women's doubles team Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand made history by reaching the quarterfinals, marking the first time in 11 years for an Indian women's pair. They secured a decisive victory over Japan's Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi. Meanwhile, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also advanced in men's doubles, overcoming a tough Malaysian duo. However, it was a disappointing day for Indian singles players PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty, who were eliminated from the tournament. The Indian teams continue to keep hopes alive for a medal.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 20, 2026, 23:33 IST

Historic Quarterfinals for Indian Women's Doubles

In a remarkable display of skill, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the women's doubles quarterfinals at the BWF World Championships, defeating Japan's seventh-seeded duo, Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, in straight games. This victory marks a significant achievement as they are the first Indian women's doubles team to reach this stage in 11 years, as reported by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

The Indian pair, currently ranked 39th in the world, secured a convincing 21-16, 21-12 win, setting up a challenging quarterfinal match against the fourth-seeded Chinese team of Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shi Xian.

Treesa and Gayatri started strong, taking a 13-9 lead in the first game. Although the Japanese team rallied to win seven consecutive points, the Indian duo regained their focus and clinched the game. The second game was dominated by the Indians, who utilized quick drops and cross-court smashes to maintain pressure, finishing the match in just 44 minutes.

Men's Doubles Team Also Advances

In another exciting match, the two-time World Championships bronze medalists, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, triumphed over Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King with a score of 21-23, 21-19, 21-17. The Indian pair faced challenges, saving two game points in the first game but ultimately losing it. They fought back in the second game, overcoming a deficit to force a decisive third game.

In the final game, after trailing 12-15, they leveled the score at 17-17 and then won the next four points to secure their place in the quarterfinals against the third-seeded Chinese pair, Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

Disappointment in Singles

Unfortunately, it was a tough day for India in the singles category, with PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty both exiting the tournament. Sindhu, a two-time world champion, faced a heartbreaking defeat against China's third seed, Wang Zhi Yi, with a score of 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 after an intense 88-minute match. Despite a strong comeback in the second game, she couldn't maintain her lead in the final game.

Ayush Shetty's journey also ended with a loss to Indonesia's Alwi Farhan, who won 21-19, 21-11. Despite these setbacks, the Indian men's and women's doubles teams continue to keep the nation's hopes alive for a medal at the World Championships.

Key Results from the Championships

The BAI has reported several important results from the championships, including notable matches in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. The competition remains fierce as players vie for top honors.