Syed Modi International: Treesa-Gayatri duo retains title, Srikanth loses men's final

LUCKNOW: The Indian pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand retained the women's doubles crown but Kidambi Srikanth's hopes of snapping an eight-year title drought went up in smoke as he suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final of the Syed Modi International Super 300 here Sunday.

Former winner Srikanth, a 2021 world championships silver medallist, went down 16-21, 21-8, 20-22 to world No 59 Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong in a 67-minute thriller.

The 32-year-old had last won a title in 2017 at the French Open and had come close earlier this year, finishing runner-up at the Malaysia Masters Super 500.

Defending champions Treesa and Gayatri, however, produced an attacking masterclass to rally from a game down and outwit the world No 35 pair of Japan's Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe 17-21, 21-13, 21-15 in a pulsating one hour and 16-minute final. They were playing only their second event since Gayatri's return from a five-month shoulder injury layoff.

Treesa-Gayatri show class

The women’s doubles final opened with a thrilling 49-shot rally, signalling a fierce contest as both pairs traded early blows before Japan’s Rena Osawa and Kanano Tanabe edged ahead. Treesa Jolly’s sharp smashes brought the Indians back into it, but the Japanese regrouped to take the first game 21-17.

Switching sides sparked a turnaround, with Treesa and Gayatri Gopichand racing to a 9-2 lead. They kept control with aggressive play and levelled the match 21-13.

In the decider, the Indians built a 7-4 lead before momentary lapses allowed the Japanese to close in. Treesa’s deft touches and Gayatri’s timely smash restored the cushion, and a series of precise winners earned India six match points. They converted on the second to retain the title.