Journey ends in semis, but Treesa-Gayatri prove they can go miles in the future

Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning have revolutionized women's doubles in badminton with their aggressive smash, recorded at 398 kph over the weekend. Since the beginning of 2025, they have claimed victory in every third tournament, including the most recent World Championships, which they won against Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. This match took place during the 2024 Asian Championship, resulting in a score of 21-2, 21-11.

However, in the following matches, the Indian duo encountered difficulties, losing 18-21, 21-13, 21-8 in the semis at the World Championships. Despite this loss, Treesa and Gayatri acknowledge the challenge posed by the Chinese pair, emphasizing the need for improvement. During the World Championships, their performance demonstrated both potential and the difficulties they would face in challenging the Chinese players in the future.

Gayatri Gopichand, known for her attacking style and fierce persistence, had to deal with the pressure of maintaining her performance under Chinese pressure. Treesa Jolly, her partner, was expected to stabilize the team on court. The duo faced a tough challenge, as Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning kept Treesa away from the shuttle, aiming to tire her out. The Indian athletes were riding high on confidence after taking the opening set 21-18, but their rhythm was broken in the subsequent games.

With the bronze medal win behind them, the Indian pair recognizes the uphill battle ahead. They need to maintain their momentum and overcome the challenges posed by the Chinese players. Their coach, Pullela Gopichand, pointed out the importance of adapting to the Chinese's serve and maintaining the rhythm. While the Indian pair made strides in their journey, they acknowledge that there is still a long way to go before they can challenge the current top-ranked pair from China.