Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, the Indian women’s doubles duo, were eliminated from the BWF World Tour Finals. After losing in straight games to Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in their third and final group A match in Hangzhou. Treesa and Gayatri, who just won their first BWF Super 300 title at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow. They were defeated 17-21 13-21 by their world number four opponents in 49 minutes.
It was the Indian pair’s fourth defeat in five meetings against their Japanese opponents. The latter won bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. Treesa and Gayatri, the only Indians to have qualified for the renowned season-ending competition. The Indian duo required a win to guarantee a position in the knockout stage of the competition. On Wednesday, the Indians barely lost to world No.1 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China in their first group match.
They stunned Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan in their second encounter to keep their hopes alive. However, the Japanese pair proved too hot for the Indian couple, who remained level with Matsuyama and Shida until 5–5. The Japanese pair then surged ahead, scoring six points in a row to lead 18-10. Treesa and Gayatri reduced the deficit to 17-19, but Matsuyama and Shida won.
Treesa and Gayatri Bow Out
Gayatri and Treesa held a slim 4-2 lead, but Matsuyama and Shida swiftly reversed the tables and led by four points at the break. The Japanese duo maintained a tight grip on the rallies and gradually moved ahead, eventually shutting the door on the Indians. Matsuyama and Shida joined Chinese team Sheng Shu and Ning in the tournament’s semifinals. It has been a tough year for Indian shuttlers.
Treesa and Gayatri, who just won their second BWF World Tour championship together at the Syed Modi International Super 300 in Lucknow, were the only Indians to advance to the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals. On Thursday, a Badminton High Performance Centre was opened in Bhubaneswar’s iconic Kalinga Stadium. The facility was launched by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Assam Chief Minister Himant Biswa Sarma.
