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The Indian duo assured themselves of a medal with a come-from-behind 16-21 21-15 21-13 win over China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian in the women's doubles quarterfinal.

India last won a BWF World Championships medal in women's doubles in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed bronze in London.

"I think just being calm and patient and just being in the present moment that actually what we need to do to score points against them. Those kind of mindset was there. I think that really worked," Gayatri told reporters.

Treesa admitted the significance of the victory only truly sank in when they reached the final stages of the deciding game.

"I think when we got last 21 points. Because with those kind of players, it's like when you actually win, that time only we will actually process that," she said.

"I think right now, just processing this one, we are going to the semi-finals and being on the podium. But it's not finished yet. This is not the ending. We came here with a goal.

"Actually, this is our third World Championship. And it's happening in India and on home soil. I think the crowd was so amazing. I think that really helped us."

The Indians will next face top seeds China's Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, but Gayatri said they were refusing to get carried away by the occasion or the identity of their opponents.

"We don't want to think too much. We don't want to think about the outcome too much. We just want to get on court first. And then I think we are playing well. And I think we just want to keep doing that. And see what happens," she said.

Treesa also drew confidence from the praise they received from Olympic champion Jia Yifan, who won the Paris Games gold alongside Chen Qingchen.

"When I started playing, when she won the Olympics world medal, it's like she is a good player and beating her, it's like kind of a confidence boost for both of us," Treesa said.

"And in this level when you play, you cannot really praise also anyone. It's like everyone is competitive and we need to be in that level, we should do that."

Gayatri revealed that even with a sizeable lead in the decider, the pair kept reminding each other not to relax.

"I think we were constantly telling each other it's not over yet, it's not over yet. Because we had a huge lead in the third set, but we just kept telling each other it wasn't over yet," she said.

The medal also represents the culmination of several years of ups and downs for the pair, who have pushed each other through difficult phases.

In the past, Treesa and Gayatri made it to the All England Open semi-finals in 2022 and 2023. They also won a Commonwealth Games bronze in 2022 and broke into the top 10 at the start of last year.

However, early this year, Treesa suffered an ankle injury while training ahead of the Asia Badminton Championships and Uber Cup.

"I think there is so much of ups and downs that these many years that we all went through, I think now we are in a great shape and we just want to continue that," Treesa said.

"I think obviously, before Asian Championship, I got injured three days before. I think that was kind of, obviously it's been sad and emotional and kind of missing those major tournaments, representing India and all those moments I missed," she said.

After a gruelling rehabilitation, Treesa and Gayatri returned at the Indonesia Open and then played at US Open before winning the Philippine International Challenge early this month.

"I think those times, I think Gopi sir, Gaya, my parents, my friends, everyone was there behind me, who supported me to just recover as soon as possible and just be fit.

"I think that time she was also training. She's also waiting for me. I'm telling her, I will come soon."

Treesa said past disappointments, including the India Open, had taught her the value of staying patient in crucial moments.

"I think few tournaments, I think I have messed up with so much of greediness to get the scoring, the points, that obviously I still remember when we played the India Open," she said.

"It was kind of little bit, crucial situations happened and it was such a great match we played. But those situations, if I could have been little bit calmer and patient, we could have just scored points and win that match.

"So I was just telling myself that, just be calm, it's not finished yet. You need to be in a present mind where what's happening. I think that's really worked."