New Delhi, August 16: PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Lakshya Sen will lead India’s challenge as the BWF World Championships 2026 begin at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
The prestigious tournament returns to India after 17 years, with Indian players aiming to continue the country’s record of winning at least one medal at every World Championships since 2011.
Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu, seeded ninth, will begin her campaign against Ireland’s Sofia Nobel in the women’s singles Round of 64. The 31-year-old, a former world champion, enters the tournament with confidence after winning the Japan Open Super 750 title in July. She has won five World Championships medals, including gold in 2019.
The day’s biggest attraction will be 21-year-old Ayush Shetty’s clash with defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China. The Indian, who won silver at the Asian Championships earlier this year, will make his World Championships debut on home soil. He trails Shi 0-3 in their head-to-head record.
Lakshya Sen, who turned 25 on Sunday, will start his campaign against Austria’s Collins Filimon on Tuesday and could face second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the pre-quarterfinals.
Satwik-Chirag have received a first-round bye. India’s other matches on Monday include MR Arjun-Hariharan Amsakarunan in men’s doubles and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand in women’s doubles.
