Treesa-Gayatri Claim Syed Modi Doubles Title as Srikanth Falls Short in Men's Final

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In a thrilling conclusion to the Syed Modi India International badminton tournament in Lucknow, Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand emerged victorious, winning the doubles title. Their victory came on the same day that top Indian men's singles player Kidambi Srikanth suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final. While Srikanth, the 2021 World Championship silver medalist, struggled to find his footing against unseeded Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong China, Treesa and Gayatri displayed remarkable composure and skill in their marathon final against Japan's Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe. The Indian pair, who were down 17-21 in the first game, mounted a stunning comeback, taking the next two games 21-13 and 21-15. In an interview after the match, Treesa credited the duo's success to their well-planned strategy and exceptional teamwork. 'We knew it wouldn't be easy, so we discussed our game plan beforehand,' Treesa said. 'In the first game, we tried to take control, but we couldn't. However, we changed our strategy in the second game, and it worked wonders.' Gayatri, who played a crucial role in the final with her exceptional deception and flicks on the net, added that the pair's combination was key to their success. 'Our game plans have changed a lot now, and we hope to continue this in future events.' Meanwhile, Srikanth's loss in the men's singles final was a disappointment, despite his valiant effort against Gunawan. The former world No 1 struggled in the first game, committing a series of unforced errors, but managed to find his rhythm in the second game, winning 21-8. However, he faltered in the third game, ultimately losing 20-22. Srikanth, who last won a BWF title at the 2017 French Open, expressed his disappointment but vowed to come back stronger. 'My last two hits were out, and it made all the difference,' he said. 'Gunawan played really well, and I will discuss my next plan with my coaches soon.' In other news, Japan's Hina Akechi won the women's singles crown, defeating Neslihan Arin of Turkey 21-16, 21-14.