For years, Indian women’s doubles badminton struggled for consistent success on the global stage. But Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela have redefined the narrative.
Young, tenacious, and technically gifted, the pair has emerged as the face of India’s women’s doubles renaissance — a category long overshadowed by the exploits of India’s singles stars.
Their journey has been anything but straightforward. From heartbreak in the Olympic qualification race to lifting their maiden Super 300 title, Treesa and Gayatri have fought hard to carve their niche. While Indian badminton has witnessed a turbulent year in 2025, their resilience and rise continue to inspire hope.
A Rising Force: The Breakthrough Phase
By the time they were 20, Treesa and Gayatri had already made headlines. Their back-to-back semifinal finishes at the prestigious All England Open in 2022 and 2023 earned them acclaim, positioning them as strong contenders for the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, fate had different plans.
The newly formed pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, in a surprise twist, pipped them to the Olympic berth based on higher ranking points in the qualification window. For Treesa and Gayatri, it was a crushing blow. But champions respond, and respond they did.
At the Syed Modi India International, a Super 300 event held in November 2024, the duo scripted history by becoming the first Indian women’s doubles pair to win the title. It was their maiden BWF World Tour title and a statement of intent. The victory helped them break into the world’s top 12, and by January 2025, they climbed to World No. 9 — the highest ever for an Indian women’s doubles pair, surpassing the legendary duo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa (WR 10).
Sustained Momentum in 2025
Their upward trajectory continued into early 2025. Treesa and Gayatri delivered consistent performances, making the semifinals of the Swiss Open (S300) and reaching the quarterfinals at the All England once again. Along the way, they registered a statement win over Korea’s World No. 2 pair Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong. They also pushed world No. 1s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning to the brink — showing they could go toe-to-toe with the world’s best.
Their performances earned them a well-deserved spot in the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals, where they took World No. 1s Liu/Tan to three games, and followed it up with a win over Malaysia’s Tan/Thinnah. Although they lost to Japan’s Shida/Matsuyama in a spirited contest, the message was clear: India finally had a women’s doubles pair with the potential to challenge for global titles consistently.
Current Landscape: Sole Flag Bearers
With Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto parting ways post-Olympics, Treesa and Gayatri now stand as the undisputed leaders of Indian women’s doubles. No other pair is close to their consistency or ranking. The Panda sisters sit at WR 39, while Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra hover around WR 43.
However, Swetaparna Panda’s brief doping-related suspension in early 2025 cast a shadow over the development of second-tier pairs. Although cleared to compete again, the incident exposed a need for better education and regulation within the Indian badminton ecosystem.
Challenges and Recovery
Treesa Jolly’s shoulder injury in March 2025 came at a crucial juncture. The physically demanding calendar had taken its toll. The pair was forced to withdraw from the Sudirman Cup and miss key tournaments. A two-month rehab period followed.
They made their comeback at the Thailand Open in May. As third seeds, Treesa and Gayatri breezed through their opening round with a dominant win over Malaysia’s Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting. However, since their return, they’ve struggled to progress beyond the Round of 16 in top-tier events — including a recent straight-games loss to Japan’s Fukushima and Matsumoto at the Indonesia Open 2025.
The loss was a tough one, but it’s important contextually — this is a duo coming off injury, re-establishing rhythm in a highly competitive circuit.
Structural Roadblocks
A significant challenge for Indian women’s doubles remains the fragmented training structure. Treesa and Gayatri train at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. Priya/Shruti are based at the Suchitra Badminton Academy, while the Panda sisters continue to train in Cuttack. This geographical and logistical separation has created a clear quality gap.
To bridge this, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has brought in experienced Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her, who previously guided top Malaysian and Indian pairs. His focus is on refining strategy and instilling tactical discipline — areas critical for success in doubles. The early signs are encouraging, and Jolly-Pullela appear to be adapting quickly to his methodology.
A Moment of Reflection
In June 2025, for the first time since the inception of BWF rankings in 2009, not a single Indian shuttler featured in the Top 10 across any category. It was a sobering moment for Indian badminton — but in that darkness, Treesa and Gayatri stood tall as the highest-ranked Indians at World No. 12.
Their journey isn’t just about winning titles — it represents a roadmap. From heartbreak to hard work, from doubters to believers, they are showing what sustained focus and dedication can deliver, even in a traditionally underrepresented discipline.
The Road Ahead
With the Paris Olympics behind them and 2025 halfway through, the remainder of the season is pivotal. If they remain injury-free and regain rhythm, cracking into the top 5 is a realistic goal. More than rankings, their next target will be to go deep in a Super 750 or Super 1000 event — a benchmark for the world’s elite pairs.
Looking beyond results, Treesa and Gayatri are also emerging as cultural icons. Their synergy on court, relentless fighting spirit, and visibility have won them a loyal fanbase — a rarity for a women’s doubles pair in India. Their success is already inspiring the next wave of players.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela are more than a promising pair — they are India’s best shot at rewriting the history books in women’s doubles badminton. Their recent dip is not a derailment but a phase every elite athlete must navigate.
With the right support, streamlined training, and careful management of workload, they can achieve what no Indian pair has done before: win a medal at the World Championships or Olympics in women’s doubles.
And if their journey so far is anything to go by, they’re just getting started.