Syed Modi International Badminton: Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly Won The Title

Defending champions Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand fought hard to secure a three-game victory against Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe, successfully defending their women’s doubles title at the Syed Modi International Super 300 in Lucknow on Sunday (November 30, 2025).

Match Summary

The final kicked off with an exhilarating 49-shot rally, setting the stage for an intense battle as both teams fought fiercely, with Osawa and Tanabe initially taking a 6-3 lead.

However, Treesa’s powerful smashes brought the Indians back to level terms, and an error from Osawa allowed them to pull ahead at 8-6.

The Japanese team, however, regrouped and managed to take a narrow lead at the interval, extending it to 18-15.

A backhand cross-court shot from Tanabe caught Gayatri off guard, and another mistake from the Indians gave the Japanese five game points.

Treesa and Gayatri managed to save two of those, but Tanabe sealed the first game with a decisive smash.

Switching sides created a shift in momentum as the Indians found their groove and displayed great anticipation, pushing the score to 9-2.

Thanks to another strong smash from Treesa in the backcourt, they maintained an 11-5 lead at halftime despite a few shots going into the net.

Treesa and Gayatri kept controlling the rallies, advancing to 17-9.

Treesa’s quick racquet speed and agile movements allowed her to deliver aggressive returns, bringing the Indians to 20-11.

They missed two game points before a long lift from the Japanese team pushed the match into a deciding game.

In the third game, the Indians jumped to a 7-4 lead, but some miscommunication cost them a few points.

However, sharp interceptions at the net helped them regain control, and a clever net shot from Treesa, followed by another well-executed point, gave them a six-point lead at the break.

Osawa and Tanabe closed the gap to 12-14, and then to 13-15.

Treesa delivered another sneaky net shot, and Gayatri followed up with a powerful smash as the Indians edged closer to the title.

A delicate drop shot from Treesa, combined with a wide shot from the Japanese, handed India six match points, and they clinched the victory on the second attempt to keep their title.

The top-seeded Indian pair showcased an impressive attacking strategy, coming back from a game down to outsmart the world No. 35 Japanese duo with scores of 17-21, 21-13, and 21-15 in a thrilling final that lasted one hour and 16 minutes.