BWF World Championships 2026: Treesa-Gayatri advance, Kavipriya-Simran bow out in women's doubles

India's leading women's doubles combination of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand made a commanding start to their BWF World Championships 2026 campaign on Tuesday, advancing to the next round at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The Indian pair overcame Canada's Nyl Yakura and Josephine Wu in straight games, winning 21-13, 21-11 in their Round of 32 encounter. Treesa and Gayatri controlled the contest for long stretches and required just 30 minutes to complete the victory. The result kept India's challenge alive in women's doubles on a day when compatriots Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were eliminated by Bulgaria's experienced sisters Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva.

Treesa-Gayatri dominate

Treesa and Gayatri quickly established control against the Canadian combination, opening up an early advantage in the first game and maintaining pressure through their attacking play. The Indians entered the interval with a healthy lead and did not allow their opponents to build sustained momentum. After taking the opening game 21-13, they tightened their grip further in the second.

Treesa and Gayatri again raced ahead, forcing the Canadians into defensive positions and closing out the second game 21-11 to secure their passage to the next round. The victory carries particular significance for the Indian pair after a season in which injuries and interruptions affected their competitive rhythm. The duo have previously reached a career-high world ranking of No. 9 and were bronze medallists in women's doubles at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Their progression also strengthens India's hopes in a discipline where the country has traditionally found World Championship medals harder to secure compared with singles and men's doubles.

Kavipriya-Simran exit

There was disappointment, however, for Kavipriya and Simran, whose maiden World Championships campaign came to an end against the formidable Bulgarian pairing of Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva. The Indian duo struggled to settle into the contest and lost the opening game 7-21 as the Bulgarians established control early. Kavipriya and Simran attempted to respond in the second game, but the experienced Stoeva sisters maintained their advantage to complete the victory.

Despite the defeat, Kavipriya and Simran had made an encouraging start to their World Championships debut a day earlier. They defeated Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez 22-20, 21-14 in the Round of 64. After surviving a close opening game, the Indians took greater control in the second to earn their place in the last 32. The Bulgarian sisters represented a considerable step up in experience and quality, however, bringing the young Indians' run to an end.

India eye home success

The women's doubles results came amid a busy second day for the Indian contingent at the World Championships, which are being staged in the country for the first time in 17 years.

New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is hosting the August 17-23 tournament, with India fielding competitors across all five disciplines — men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.

The hosts had enjoyed an impressive opening day, winning all five of their matches. Ayush Shetty produced the biggest result by defeating defending men's singles champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi, while former world champion PV Sindhu also advanced.

India have built an impressive record at the World Championships over the past decade and a half. Since 2011, Indian shuttlers have secured at least one medal at every edition, with the country entering the New Delhi tournament having accumulated 15 World Championship medals overall.

With Kavipriya and Simran now out, Treesa and Gayatri carry India's remaining women's doubles challenge as the tournament moves towards the business end of the draw.