Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly Celebrate Arjuna Award and BWF Victory
Celebrations for Indian Badminton Stars
On Tuesday, Indian badminton doubles athletes Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly had a double celebration as they were honored with the Arjuna Award for 2025 and advanced to the Round of 16 at the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi.
The duo was among 17 athletes recognized for this prestigious award, announced in the morning. Later that day, they secured a straight-game victory against the USA's Lauren Lam and Allison Lee during their Round of 32 match at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Expressions of Gratitude
In response to the award announcement, Gayatri expressed her joy, stating, "It feels amazing, super grateful. This is a very special moment for me, and I feel proud and happy." When asked if she had spoken to her father, former badminton star Pullela Gopichand, she mentioned, "I haven't talked to Gopi sir yet, but my family congratulated me, and they are thrilled."
Treesa shared her excitement, noting, "This is a significant moment for my family. It was my father's dream to receive the Arjuna Award. He called me to say, 'You got the Arjuna Award,' and I am so happy that it’s coming home soon."
Match Highlights
The Indian pair continued their celebrations on the court, defeating Lam and Lee with scores of 21-15, 21-12 in the Round of 32. After a competitive start, they took control of the match and maintained their aggressive strategy to win the second game comfortably.
Gayatri commented on their performance, saying, "The courts were a bit tricky, but we adapted quickly and didn’t let frustration get to us. Once we understood how the shuttle was moving, we played better. Our aggressive approach worked in our favor, and we are really happy with the win."
Advancing in the Championships
This victory secured a spot for Treesa and Gayatri in the women's doubles Round of 16 at the World Championships, which are being hosted in India for the first time since 2009. Their success provided a positive highlight for India's women's doubles campaign, especially after Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Bulgarian sisters Stefani and Gabriela Stoeva.
The National Sports Awards recognize outstanding athletic performance, with the Arjuna Award awarded for sustained excellence over the past four years, alongside leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. Other recipients of the Arjuna Award include athletes from various sports such as athletics, boxing, chess, and hockey.