Gayatri and Treesa Celebrate Arjuna Nod With World Win

Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly celebrated being named among the recipients of the Arjuna Award for 2025 by advancing to the women’s doubles Round of 16 at the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi. The Indian pair defeated Lauren Lam and Allison Lee of the United States 21-15, 21-12 in their Round of 32 match at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

The result gave Gayatri and Treesa two significant reasons to mark the day. They were among 17 sportspersons named for the Arjuna Award on Tuesday morning, before returning to the court later in the evening and producing a straight-game victory at the home World Championships.

The award nomination recognises sustained sporting performance over the previous four years, as well as leadership, sportsmanship and discipline. For the Indian women’s doubles pair, the announcement came alongside a chance to continue their campaign at a World Championships being staged in India for the first time since 2009.

Arjuna Award announcement adds to a special day

Gayatri described the recognition as an emotional moment. “Feels amazing, super grateful. It feels very special. I just feel very proud and I’m just feeling very happy,” she said after the announcement.

Gayatri also said her family had shared its congratulations, although she had not yet spoken to her father, former Indian badminton player Pullela Gopichand. “I haven’t talked to Gopi sir yet, but the whole family just said congrats, and they are very happy,” she told reporters.

The honour has a family connection for Gayatri, whose father received the Arjuna Award in 1999. Treesa said the award was also especially meaningful for her family, recalling a call from her father after the recipients were announced.

“I think it’s immense; I’m so happy. It was a dream of my father’s to get an Arjuna Award, so he just called me and said like, ‘Yeah, you got the Arjuna Award’, and I’m so happy that it’s coming home soon,” Treesa said.

Gayatri and Treesa were the two badminton players included in the list of 17 athletes set to receive the award. The wider list also included athletes from sports such as athletics, boxing, chess, hockey, kabaddi, shooting and rowing.

The timing made the Round of 32 match against Lam and Lee an immediate opportunity to translate the day’s recognition into progress at the World Championships. The Indian pair did so with a 21-15 first game followed by a 21-12 second game.

Straight-game win secures Round of 16 place

Gayatri and Treesa, listed as the world No. 39 pair, came through a competitive opening phase before taking control of the contest. They maintained their approach through the second game and closed out the match comfortably to book their place in the Round of 16.

Gayatri said adapting to the conditions was important in their victory. “The courts were like very much like yesterday, a bit tricky, but I think we just wanted to adapt quickly and not get too frustrated, but as soon as we got to know how the shuttle was moving, I think we could play our game better,” she said.

She added that the pair’s attacking approach worked in their favour. “And yeah, I think we were pretty aggressive today, which worked in our favour, so yeah, really happy [with the win],” Gayatri said.

The win provided a positive result for India’s women’s doubles campaign on the day. Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi exited in the Round of 32 after losing 21-7, 21-14 to Bulgarian sisters Stefani Stoeva and Gabriela Stoeva.

For Gayatri and Treesa, however, the day ended with an award nomination and continued progress in New Delhi. Their straight-game win ensured that their World Championships run will continue into the women’s doubles Round of 16.