The qualification race for the Paris 2024 Olympics is heating up. India’s top-ranked women’s doubles duo of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto has been downed by Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand at the badminton French Open 2024.
Having won the first game (21-16), it looked like Ashwini-Tanisha would run away and further improve their chances of making the final cut at the Paris Olympics. However, Tressa-Gayatri scripted a brilliant comeback, winning the next two games by a tight margin (21-19, 21-17).
Paris 2024 Olympics: Qualification Race and Scenarios
With this win, the World No. 27 pair has thrown their name into the hat as the second pair to qualify for the Olympics. For the unaware, only the top 16 teams from women’s doubles can qualify for the prestigious event, with not more than two teams from one country making the final cut.
The last date for these qualifications is April 30, with the results from May 1, 2023, and April 28, 2024, being counted to determine their rankings.
As of now, Ashwini-Tanisha is ranked 11th in the race to the Olympics, with 49810 points from 17 tournaments. If the top Indian duo keep their form, they’ll qualify with ease. Meanwhile, the pair of Tressa-Gayatri don’t currently have a ranking in the Olympic qualification race but have collected 42264 points in 14 events since May 1, 2023.
With four events left and 1900 points on the line, India could very well see Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, as well as Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, qualify in the top 16.
The five badminton events at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena from July 27 to August 5.
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