Syed Modi International: Treesa-Gayatri Retain Crown; Srikanth's 8-Year Title Drought Continues
Indian duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defend women’s doubles title at Syed Modi International.
At the Syed Modi International Super 300 in Lucknow's BBD U.P. Badminton Academy, Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand successfully defended their title with a comeback victory over Japan's Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe. The duo rallied from a game down to win 17-21, 21-13, 21-15 in a 76-minute final marked by a 49-shot opening rally and aggressive smashes. Gayatri, returning from a five-month shoulder injury, credited strategic shifts and attacking play for the triumph in their second event back.
Treesa highlighted improved coordination, noting both players' versatility across court positions. "We were prepared for a long match against Japanese opponents," Gayatri added, targeting upcoming World Tour events in Malaysia and India. The victory boosts their momentum ahead of key tournaments, showcasing resilience post-injury.
Kidambi Srikanth's quest for a first title since the 2017 French Open ended in agony against Hong Kong's world No. 59 Jason Gunawan. The 2021 world silver medallist fell 16-21, 21-8, 20-22 in a 67-minute decider after dominating the second game. Srikanth led early in the third but errors at 19-19 and 20-all proved costly, with Gunawan clinching via jump smash.
Srikanth remained philosophical: "99.9% it was a good event... just a matter of a few points." The 32-year-old praised his coaching team—Gopichand, Guru, and trainers—for injury recovery progress, vowing to refine details after runner-up finishes like Malaysia Masters Super 500. The $240,000 Super 300 event underscores India's badminton strength.
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