Treesa-Gayatri: From Olympic heartbreak to World Tour Finals

The season-ending BWF World Tour Finals 2024 are around the corner, and the women's doubles duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will be the lone Indian representatives at the elite event, where just the top-8 players will compete for the crown jewel before embarking on a new season in 2025.

By qualifying for this prestigious tournament, Treesa and Gayatri not only brought India back to the world stage after a one-year hiatus but also reaffirmed their place among the top echelons of women's badminton after a topsy turvy season.

On top of Asia

In February, the two 21-year-olds were at the peak of their powers, leading India to the Badminton Asia Team Championships triumph with their exceptional performances.

They remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, delivering crucial wins against higher-ranked opponents.

Their stellar showing helped India edge past powerhouse China 3-2 in the group stage.

They stunned former World No. 2 duo Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan in the semifinals. In the final, they gave India an important 2-0 lead by defeating the then World No. 10 Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand.

Heartbreak of missing Paris

Riding on their fiery form, they rose further in the rankings, and their hopes of qualifying for the Paris Olympics 2024 grew stronger.

However, just when it seemed they were on track for a spot in the Olympics, a slump in form and injuries dashed their dreams.

By May, their world ranking plummeted to 30, marking the beginning of a tough phase for the young duo.

Despite their torrid time, they did not give up.

Instead, they doubled down on training, zeroing in on ironing out their game, incorporating new techniques, and enhancing endurance through rigorous fitness sessions.

The results, however, remained elusive.

In September, they reached the semifinals of the Macau Open, but a World Tour title continued to evade them.

Nevertheless, this performance was enough to secure a spot at the World Tour Finals.

Their qualification for the elite event injected much-needed confidence into their game.

Winning their maiden World Tour title

That confidence finally bore fruit at the Syed Modi India International in November in Lucknow, where they clinched their maiden BWF World Tour title.

They were the first Indian women's doubles duo to win the title, marking it as a historic moment.

By the end of the season, they had climbed back into the top 8 of the World Tour Rankings - a remarkable achievement, given that only one other Indian women’s doubles pair could attain the feat.

Notably, other big names in Indian badminton, unable to overcome the heartbreak of missing out on the Paris Olympic podium, fell short in the race to qualify for the BWF World Tour Finals this year.

Having bounced back from the disappointment of missing the Olympics and elevated their game to new heights, fifth-seeded Treesa and Gayatri will look to dazzle at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, the venue for the World Tour Finals.

Poised to shine

Placed in Group A, the fifth-seeded Indians face formidable opponents.

They will begin their campaign on December 11 against World No. 1 pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, who come into the Finals with multiple title wins. Thereafter, they face World No. 6, Malaysians Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan.

Their final group match will be against a familiar yet formidable duo: World No. 4 Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan.

However, the Indians will be confident heading into the match, having defeated the Japanese pair during the Badminton Asia Team Championships.

Despite the challenges, Treesa and Gayatri have shown they can hold their own against top pairs and will be determined to make their mark.

With improved defence, agility, stroke play, and swift movement, Treesa and Gayatri are ready to dazzle and prove they belong on the world’s biggest stage.