Syed Modi International: Doubles glory for Treesa and Gayatri, Srikanth just missed

The 2025 Syed Modi International Super 300 concluded on Sunday with contrasting fortunes for India’s shuttlers. The Indian pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand retained their women’s doubles crown in a thrilling final, while Kidambi Srikanth’s bid to end an eight-year title drought fell agonizingly short in the men’s singles decider.

Defending champions Treesa and Gayatri faced the world No. 35 Japanese pair of Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe in a pulsating one hour and 16-minute final. After losing the first game 17-21, the Indian duo staged a superb comeback to win 21-13, 21-15. The match featured high-intensity rallies, including a breathtaking 49-shot exchange early on, which set the tone for the contest. Treesa’s quick racquet speed and sharp net play, coupled with Gayatri’s powerful baseline smashes, allowed the pair to dominate the second game and maintain momentum in the decider. Strategic rotations and strong anticipation helped them close out the match on their second match point.

“This tournament is a big boost for me for the season ahead,” said Gayatri, returning from a five-month shoulder injury layoff. “We knew the match would be long, and after changing our strategy, the attacking rallies worked perfectly.” Treesa added, “Our coordination has improved a lot. Today, we showed that we can play anywhere on the court and complement each other well.” The victory reinforces their status as India’s top women’s doubles pair and signals a strong start to the season ahead, with World Tour events in Malaysia and India next on their agenda.

In men’s singles, former world No. 1 and 2021 World Championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth, 32, faced Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong in a 67-minute thriller. Srikanth, who last won a title in 2017 at the French Open, went down 16-21, 21-8, 20-22 in a contest decided by the slimmest of margins. Gunawan started strongly, opening up a 4-1 lead in the first game and eventually taking it 21-16. Srikanth responded with a dominant second game, producing sharp smashes and agile retrieves to win 21-8. The decider was a nerve-wracking battle, with the score tied 19-19 before Gunawan sealed victory 22-20 with a decisive jump smash.

“99.9% it was a good event for me,” said Srikanth. “At 20-all, you can’t say much. Jason played really well. If a couple of shots had fallen differently, the result could have changed. It was just a matter of a few points.” He acknowledged the support of his coaches and training team, adding that he will continue working on fine-tuning his game for upcoming tournaments.

The Syed Modi International showcased the depth and resilience of Indian badminton. Treesa and Gayatri demonstrated exceptional skill, tactical intelligence, and composure under pressure, retaining their crown convincingly, while Srikanth’s thrilling performance, despite a narrow loss, highlights his enduring competitiveness and potential for future success. As Indian shuttlers look forward to World Tour events in Malaysia and India, the tournament provided both a confidence boost for the women’s doubles duo and a reminder of the fine margins that define elite-level badminton in singles.