Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have made a major jump in the latest BWF women’s doubles rankings, moving 12 places to World No. 27 after their historic bronze-medal campaign at the 2026 Badminton World Championships in New Delhi. The rise comes at an important stage of their comeback and underlines the significance of their impressive run against some of the strongest pairs in world badminton.
The Indian duo had entered the World Championships ranked 39th in the world. Their ranking had slipped following an injury layoff that interrupted their regular competition schedule. However, their performances on home soil changed the picture dramatically. After earning 10,500 ranking points from their World Championships run, Treesa and Gayatri now sit at No. 27 with 44,192 points, compared with 33,692 points in the previous update.
A 12-Place Jump After a Historic Campaign
The latest BWF rankings provide a clear statistical reflection of what Treesa and Gayatri achieved in New Delhi. Moving from No. 39 to No. 27 in one update is a substantial improvement, particularly after a period in which injuries had affected their tournament appearances and ranking position.
Their bronze medal was also historically important for Indian women’s doubles. The pair became the first Indian women’s doubles combination to win a World Championships medal since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa achieved the feat in 2011. Their performance therefore ended a 15-year wait for another Indian women’s doubles medal at the prestigious tournament.
| Ranking update | Treesa Jolly & Gayatri Gopichand |
| Previous world ranking | No. 39 |
| New world ranking | No. 27 |
| Ranking improvement | 12 places |
| Previous points | 33,692 |
| New points | 44,192 |
| Points gained | 10,500 |
| World Championships result | Bronze medal |
The numbers are significant, but they tell only part of the story. The biggest reason for the excitement around the pair is the quality of opponents they defeated during their run.
Strong Performances Against Seeded Opponents
Treesa and Gayatri arrived at the World Championships without a seeding advantage, but they quickly demonstrated that their ranking did not necessarily reflect their competitive ability. Their campaign began with a victory over Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez before they moved into a tougher section of the draw.
In the next round, the Indians defeated 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Lee of the United States in straight games, 21-15, 21-12. That victory gave them momentum heading into the knockout stages.
The Round of 16 produced an even bigger statement. Treesa and Gayatri defeated seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan 21-16, 21-12. The Japanese pair had entered the tournament with considerably more ranking weight behind them, but the Indians controlled the contest and secured their place in the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinal was the defining moment of the campaign. Facing China’s fourth-seeded Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, Treesa and Gayatri fought back after losing the opening game and eventually won the contest 16-21, 21-15, 21-13. The victory guaranteed India a women’s doubles medal and immediately placed the pair in the history books.
Bronze Despite Semifinal Defeat
The Indian pair’s impressive journey eventually ended in the semifinals against China’s world No. 1 combination of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning. Treesa and Gayatri showed considerable confidence in the opening game, winning it 21-18 and putting the top-ranked Chinese pair under pressure.
Liu and Tan, however, responded strongly. They took the second game 21-13 before establishing control in the deciding game, winning 21-8. The Chinese pair progressed to the final, while Treesa and Gayatri settled for bronze.
Although the semifinal defeat prevented the Indians from reaching the title clash, it did not reduce the importance of their achievement. For an unseeded pair returning from an injury-affected period, reaching the last four of a World Championship and defeating two seeded combinations represented a significant turnaround.
Why the Ranking Rise Matters
BWF rankings are more than a numerical measure of a player’s recent results. A higher position can influence tournament entries, draw placement and seeding opportunities. For Treesa and Gayatri, reaching No. 27 gives them a much stronger platform as they attempt to rebuild their position among the world’s leading women’s doubles teams.
The pair has previously shown that they can reach the highest levels of the sport. Their career-high ranking was No. 9 in 2023, demonstrating that the current No. 27 position is not the ceiling of their potential. The latest jump instead looks like an important step in their attempt to return to the upper levels of the international rankings.
Their World Championships performance also provides evidence that the partnership remains capable of competing with established teams. The victories over Japan’s seventh seeds and China’s fourth seeds were particularly encouraging because both came at the biggest tournament of the season.
A Positive Sign for Indian Women’s Doubles
Indian badminton has enjoyed considerable success in men’s singles and women’s singles, but women’s doubles has historically received less attention on the international stage. The bronze medal in New Delhi therefore carries importance beyond Treesa and Gayatri’s individual ranking.
The achievement has revived memories of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s 2011 World Championships bronze. It also gives Indian women’s doubles a new pair around which hopes for future international success can be built.
The current Indian women’s doubles rankings show that Treesa and Gayatri have also created some distance from the other domestic combinations. Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi are ranked 41st, while Ashwini Ponnappa and Shikha Gautam are at No. 44. Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra are ranked 47th, while Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda occupy No. 57.
For Indian badminton, having multiple competitive pairs capable of challenging established international combinations could become increasingly important. Treesa and Gayatri’s latest performance offers evidence that the women’s doubles programme has the potential to produce results on the biggest stage.
Comeback Gains Fresh Momentum
The ranking jump is particularly meaningful because of the circumstances surrounding the pair’s recent journey. An injury layoff had affected their competitive rhythm and caused their ranking to fall to No. 39. Returning to a major tournament and immediately producing a medal-winning performance required more than physical preparation.
Their World Championships campaign showed patience, confidence and the ability to handle pressure against highly ranked opponents. The team’s preparation was also reportedly built around several weeks of focused work, with national coach Pullela Gopichand highlighting patience, tactical adjustments and belief as important components of their success.
That combination will be important going forward. One successful tournament can provide a ranking boost, but maintaining a high position requires consistent performances across the BWF World Tour. Treesa and Gayatri will now look to convert their World Championships momentum into regular results.
The Road Ahead for Treesa and Gayatri
Reaching World No. 27 gives the pair a clear target. Their immediate objective will be to continue collecting ranking points and move closer to the top 20. From there, a return toward their career-best ranking would become a realistic long-term ambition if they can remain healthy and maintain their current level.
There are several areas that will determine whether their latest success becomes the beginning of a sustained rise:
- Maintaining fitness and avoiding another lengthy interruption.
- Building consistency against top-ranked pairs throughout the World Tour.
- Using the confidence gained from their World Championships victories.
- Improving their ranking position ahead of major international tournaments.
The most encouraging aspect is that their bronze was not achieved through a favourable draw alone. The pair produced genuine upsets and competed successfully against seeded opponents. That gives their ranking improvement greater significance because it was supported by performances against high-level opposition.
More Than Just a Ranking Number
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s rise from World No. 39 to No. 27 is ultimately a reflection of a much bigger comeback story. The 12-place jump follows a bronze-medal campaign that ended India’s long wait for another women’s doubles medal at the World Championships.
The pair now has 44,192 ranking points and a renewed sense of momentum. Their performance in New Delhi showed that they remain capable of challenging some of the world’s best teams, while their latest ranking provides a stronger foundation for the tournaments ahead.
For Indian badminton fans, the biggest takeaway is perhaps the possibility of what comes next. Treesa and Gayatri have already returned to the world’s top 30 after a difficult period. Their career-best No. 9 ranking proves that they have previously operated at an elite level.
The World Championships bronze has now given them another opportunity to climb toward that territory. If they can combine their New Delhi form with sustained fitness and consistent performances, the latest 12-place jump could prove to be the first major step in another rise toward the top of women’s doubles badminton.
Conclusion
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have transformed a memorable World Championships campaign into a major ranking boost. Their jump from No. 39 to No. 27 is a reward for a bronze-medal run that included victories over several seeded opponents and ended a long wait for Indian women’s doubles at the World Championships.
More importantly, the result has restored momentum to a partnership that had been affected by injuries and a drop in rankings. With their confidence renewed and their points tally significantly improved, Treesa and Gayatri now have an opportunity to push further up the BWF rankings.
Their bronze medal was historic, but the 12-place jump may be only the beginning. The next challenge is to turn one outstanding tournament into sustained success—and potentially begin another journey toward the world’s top 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many places did Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand rise in the BWF rankings?
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand climbed 12 places, moving from World No. 39 to World No. 27 in the latest women’s doubles rankings.
2. Why did Treesa and Gayatri receive such a big ranking boost?
The pair earned 10,500 ranking points from their bronze-medal run at the 2026 BWF World Championships. Their points total increased from 33,692 to 44,192.
3. What medal did Treesa and Gayatri win at the World Championships?
They won a bronze medal in women’s doubles at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
4. Who did Treesa and Gayatri defeat in the quarterfinal?
They defeated fourth-seeded Chinese pair Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian in three games to secure their place on the World Championships podium.
5. What is Treesa and Gayatri’s career-high ranking?
The pair previously reached a career-best World No. 9 ranking in 2023.
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