PV Sindhu came close to ending her losing run against An Se Young but lost to the South Korean 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 in the French Open 2026 women’s singles final on Sunday (Oct 25). The Indian won the opening game but could not maintain her momentum as the world No. 1 fought back to claim her third consecutive title at the tournament. The defeat extended An’s unbeaten head-to-head record against Sindhu to 11-0.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sindhu was aiming to win her second title of the season after her Japan Open triumph in July. She reached the final after defeating Japan’s Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a tough semi-final. However, An proved to be a difficult opponent, having entered the final on a 49-match winning streak without dropping a game in the tournament.&nbsp;Sindhu started strongly in the final, using sharp cross-court shots and effective net play to put An under pressure and her approach helped her take the first game 21-16, giving her an early advantage against the world No. 1.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-promised-gautam-kotak-sir-that-tilak-varma-opens-up-on-match-winning-mindset-against-nz-1792923797459">'I promised Gautam &amp; Kotak Sir that...': Tilak Varma opens up on match-winning mindset against NZ</a>&nbsp;An responded in the second game by improving her control of the rallies. Despite Sindhu’s efforts, the South Korean won 21-11 to level the match. Sindhu saved three game points before An eventually closed out the game.&nbsp;The Indian also started the deciding game well, taking an 8-5 lead. However, An gradually gained control, forcing Sindhu to cover more ground and making it difficult for her to launch attacks.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shaheen-afridi-fastest-pakistani-pacer-150-odi-wickets-pak-vs-eng-1792923266786">PAK vs ENG: Shaheen Afridi becomes quickest Pakistani pacer to 150 ODI wickets</a>&nbsp;An eventually won the decider 21-12 to secure the title. Although Sindhu suffered another defeat against the South Korean, her performance showed that she could challenge the world No. 1 and push her into a tough contest.

PV Sindhu’s losing streak against South Korea’s An Se-young continued as she lost 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 to the world No. 1 in the women’s singles final at the French Open on Sunday.

PV Sindhu came close to ending her losing run against An Se Young but lost to the South Korean 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 in the French Open 2026 women’s singles final on Sunday (Oct 25). The Indian won the opening game but could not maintain her momentum as the world No. 1 fought back to claim her third consecutive title at the tournament. The defeat extended An’s unbeaten head-to-head record against Sindhu to 11-0. Sindhu was aiming to win her second title of the season after her Japan Open triumph in July. She reached the final after defeating Japan’s Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a tough semi-final. However, An proved to be a difficult opponent, having entered the final on a 49-match winning streak without dropping a game in the tournament. Sindhu started strongly in the final, using sharp cross-court shots and effective net play to put An under pressure and her approach helped her take the first game 21-16, giving her an early advantage against the world No. 1. Also Read - 'I promised Gautam & Kotak Sir that...': Tilak Varma opens up on match-winning mindset against NZ An responded in the second game by improving her control of the rallies. Despite Sindhu’s efforts, the South Korean won 21-11 to level the match. Sindhu saved three game points before An eventually closed out the game. The Indian also started the deciding game well, taking an 8-5 lead. However, An gradually gained control, forcing Sindhu to cover more ground and making it difficult for her to launch attacks. Also Read - PAK vs ENG: Shaheen Afridi becomes quickest Pakistani pacer to 150 ODI wickets An eventually won the decider 21-12 to secure the title. Although Sindhu suffered another defeat against the South Korean, her performance showed that she could challenge the world No. 1 and push her into a tough contest.

PV Sindhu’s losing streak against South Korea’s An Se-young continued as she lost 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 to the world No. 1 in the women’s singles final at the French Open on Sunday.

French Open: Sindhu finishes runner-up after final loss to An Se Young

PV Sindhu reached the French Open final for the first time in her career after defeating Japan’s Hina Akechi in a thrilling three-game semi-final in Paris on Saturday (Oct 24). The two-time Olympic medallist will face world No. 1 An Se Young of South Korea in Sunday’s final, with a chance to win her second Super 750 title of the year. Sindhu, who won the Japan Open Super 750 in July, beat world No. 22 Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a match lasting one hour and 13 minutes. However, she faces a tough challenge against An, having lost all 10 of their previous meetings.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Indian also suffered straight-game defeats against the South Korean at the Indonesia Open and Singapore Open earlier this year.<h3>Sindhu shows composure under pressure</h3>The opening game remained close until 8-8 before Sindhu took control and led 11-9 at the interval and then won 11 of the next 12 points to take the game 21-10 in just 18 minutes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-2nd-t20i-tilak-varma-nitish-reddy-star-as-india-seal-thrilling-four-wicket-win-1792838698071">IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy star as India seal thrilling four-wicket win</a>&nbsp;Akechi fought back in the second game with strong defence and clever shots. Sindhu recovered from a four-point deficit and levelled the score at 16-16. However, the Japanese shuttler held her nerve in the closing stages, saving the contest at 20-20 before winning the game 22-20.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-2nd-t20i-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-fails-top-order-collapse-70-5-1792836589238">Sooryavanshi fails to fire on India comeback as top-order struggles in 2nd T20I</a>&nbsp;Sindhu started the decider strongly, but Akechi fought back to make it 15-15. The Indian then raised her game, winning a crucial 38-shot rally after her opponent made a net error. Sindhu followed it with accurate net play and a cross-court smash to seal the match.&nbsp;Akechi had earlier beaten China’s Wang Zhi Yi and Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani to reach the semi-finals. However, Sindhu overcame her resistance to book a place in the final, where she will aim to end her losing run against An Se Young.

PV Sindhu defeated Japan’s Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a hard-fought 73-minute semifinal at the French Open to reach her second Super 750 final of the year. The Indian shuttler will face world No. 1 An Se Young in Sunday’s title clash.

PV Sindhu reached the French Open final for the first time in her career after defeating Japan’s Hina Akechi in a thrilling three-game semi-final in Paris on Saturday (Oct 24). The two-time Olympic medallist will face world No. 1 An Se Young of South Korea in Sunday’s final, with a chance to win her second Super 750 title of the year. Sindhu, who won the Japan Open Super 750 in July, beat world No. 22 Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a match lasting one hour and 13 minutes. However, she faces a tough challenge against An, having lost all 10 of their previous meetings. The Indian also suffered straight-game defeats against the South Korean at the Indonesia Open and Singapore Open earlier this year. Sindhu shows composure under pressure The opening game remained close until 8-8 before Sindhu took control and led 11-9 at the interval and then won 11 of the next 12 points to take the game 21-10 in just 18 minutes. Also Read - IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy star as India seal thrilling four-wicket win Akechi fought back in the second game with strong defence and clever shots. Sindhu recovered from a four-point deficit and levelled the score at 16-16. However, the Japanese shuttler held her nerve in the closing stages, saving the contest at 20-20 before winning the game 22-20. Also Read - Sooryavanshi fails to fire on India comeback as top-order struggles in 2nd T20I Sindhu started the decider strongly, but Akechi fought back to make it 15-15. The Indian then raised her game, winning a crucial 38-shot rally after her opponent made a net error. Sindhu followed it with accurate net play and a cross-court smash to seal the match. Akechi had earlier beaten China’s Wang Zhi Yi and Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani to reach the semi-finals. However, Sindhu overcame her resistance to book a place in the final, where she will aim to end her losing run against An Se Young.

PV Sindhu defeated Japan’s Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a hard-fought 73-minute semifinal at the French Open to reach her second Super 750 final of the year. The Indian shuttler will face world No. 1 An Se Young in Sunday’s title clash.

French Open: PV Sindhu storms into final with win over Hina Akechi

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu kept India's hopes alive at the French Open 2026 by defeating Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-chian in straight games to reach the women's singles semi-finals on Friday (Oct 23). The world No. 11 Indian shuttler beat the world No. 17 player 21-13, 21-14 in a quarter-final match that lasted 39 minutes at the Arena Grand Paris. Sindhu started strongly and took an 11-5 lead at the interval in the opening game before securing it comfortably. She continued her dominance in the second game, racing to a 7-0 lead and maintaining her advantage to seal the victory. This was Sindhu's second win over Chiu, having also defeated the Chinese Taipei player at the Asian Games 2026 last month. With this result, Sindhu has reached the semi-finals of four BWF World Tour events this year. She previously made the last four at the Malaysia Open in January and the Australian Badminton Open in June, before winning the Japan Open title in July. Sindhu will face either Indonesia's world championships bronze medallist Putri Kusuma Wardani or Japan's Hina Akechi in the semi-finals on Saturday.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-s-2022-cwg-silver-medallist-sabbhineni-meghana-announces-international-retirement-1792762922110">India’s 2022 CWG silver medallist Sabbhineni Meghana announces international retirement</a> She is now India's only remaining contender at the BWF Super 750 tournament after Ashmita Chaliha lost her quarter-final match earlier on Friday. Chaliha, who had stunned three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the pre-quarter-finals to claim the biggest win of her career, suffered a 21-10, 17-21, 21-16 defeat against Japan's Olympic medallist Nozomi Okuhara.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-appoints-parvinder-awana-as-junior-selection-committee-chairman-1792752383396">BCCI appoints Parvinder Awana as junior selection committee chairman</a> India's men's singles campaign had ended on Thursday after Ayush Shetty retired due to injury, while Lakshya Sen withdrew before his first-round match. The men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and the women's doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also exited the tournament in the opening round.

PV Sindhu kept India’s hopes alive at the French Open 2026 by defeating Chiu Pin-chian in straight games to enter the semi-finals, while Ashmita Chaliha suffered a quarter-final loss to Nozomi Okuhara.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu kept India's hopes alive at the French Open 2026 by defeating Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-chian in straight games to reach the women's singles semi-finals on Friday (Oct 23). The world No. 11 Indian shuttler beat the world No. 17 player 21-13, 21-14 in a quarter-final match that lasted 39 minutes at the Arena Grand Paris. Sindhu started strongly and took an 11-5 lead at the interval in the opening game before securing it comfortably. She continued her dominance in the second game, racing to a 7-0 lead and maintaining her advantage to seal the victory. This was Sindhu's second win over Chiu, having also defeated the Chinese Taipei player at the Asian Games 2026 last month. With this result, Sindhu has reached the semi-finals of four BWF World Tour events this year. She previously made the last four at the Malaysia Open in January and the Australian Badminton Open in June, before winning the Japan Open title in July. Sindhu will face either Indonesia's world championships bronze medallist Putri Kusuma Wardani or Japan's Hina Akechi in the semi-finals on Saturday. Also Read - India’s 2022 CWG silver medallist Sabbhineni Meghana announces international retirement She is now India's only remaining contender at the BWF Super 750 tournament after Ashmita Chaliha lost her quarter-final match earlier on Friday. Chaliha, who had stunned three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the pre-quarter-finals to claim the biggest win of her career, suffered a 21-10, 17-21, 21-16 defeat against Japan's Olympic medallist Nozomi Okuhara. Also Read - BCCI appoints Parvinder Awana as junior selection committee chairman India's men's singles campaign had ended on Thursday after Ayush Shetty retired due to injury, while Lakshya Sen withdrew before his first-round match. The men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and the women's doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also exited the tournament in the opening round.

PV Sindhu kept India’s hopes alive at the French Open 2026 by defeating Chiu Pin-chian in straight games to enter the semi-finals, while Ashmita Chaliha suffered a quarter-final loss to Nozomi Okuhara.

French Open: PV Sindhu beats Chiu Pin-chian to seal semi-final spot

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the women’s singles quarter-finals of the Arctic Open 2026 with a straight-games win over Japan’s Riko Gunji in Vantaa, Finland, on Thursday (Oct 8). The sixth-seeded Indian, competing at the BWF Super 500 event, beat Gunji 21-15, 21-15 in 49 minutes to reach the last eight, where she will face top seed and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand.&nbsp;Intanon, currently ranked No. 5 in the world, defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-18, 21-7 in her second-round match to reach the quarterfinals.&nbsp;Sindhu and Intanon have faced each other 13 times on the BWF Tour, with the Thai player winning nine of those encounters, however, their last meeting came in 2022.&nbsp;Coming to the match, Sindhu had to work hard in the opening game as Gunji stayed level at 15-15. The Indian then stepped up her game, winning six points in a row to take the first game.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-can-t-beat-experience-india-assistant-coach-on-bhuvneshwar-kumar-s-return-1791469296230">'You can’t beat experience': India assistant coach on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return</a>&nbsp;The second game also remained close until the score reached 13-13. Sindhu again produced a strong finish, winning eight of the next 10 points to seal the match in straight games.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy were knocked out in the first round of the men’s singles event.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-2nd-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1791466133596">IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;World No. 31 Srikanth won the opening game against Canada’s Brian Yang but could not maintain his momentum, as the Canadian, ranked 34th in the world, fought back to win 15-21, 21-15, 21-13.&nbsp;World No. 38 Prannoy also suffered a straight-games defeat, losing 21-10, 21-9 to fourth-seeded Denmark star Anders Antonsen.

PV Sindhu defeated Riko Gunji in straight games to reach the Arctic Open quarter-finals, where she will face Ratchanok Intanon in a reunion of their rivalry after four years.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the women’s singles quarter-finals of the Arctic Open 2026 with a straight-games win over Japan’s Riko Gunji in Vantaa, Finland, on Thursday (Oct 8). The sixth-seeded Indian, competing at the BWF Super 500 event, beat Gunji 21-15, 21-15 in 49 minutes to reach the last eight, where she will face top seed and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand. Intanon, currently ranked No. 5 in the world, defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-18, 21-7 in her second-round match to reach the quarterfinals. Sindhu and Intanon have faced each other 13 times on the BWF Tour, with the Thai player winning nine of those encounters, however, their last meeting came in 2022. Coming to the match, Sindhu had to work hard in the opening game as Gunji stayed level at 15-15. The Indian then stepped up her game, winning six points in a row to take the first game. Also Read - 'You can’t beat experience': India assistant coach on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return The second game also remained close until the score reached 13-13. Sindhu again produced a strong finish, winning eight of the next 10 points to seal the match in straight games. Meanwhile, India’s Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy were knocked out in the first round of the men’s singles event. Also Read - IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? World No. 31 Srikanth won the opening game against Canada’s Brian Yang but could not maintain his momentum, as the Canadian, ranked 34th in the world, fought back to win 15-21, 21-15, 21-13. World No. 38 Prannoy also suffered a straight-games defeat, losing 21-10, 21-9 to fourth-seeded Denmark star Anders Antonsen.

PV Sindhu defeated Riko Gunji in straight games to reach the Arctic Open quarter-finals, where she will face Ratchanok Intanon in a reunion of their rivalry after four years.

Arctic Open: PV Sindhu storms into quarterfinals, set to face Intanon after four years

India’s women’s badminton team began its Asian Games 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Kazakhstan in the Round of 16 at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Sunday (Sep 20). PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma all won their respective singles matches in straight games, giving India an unassailable lead and booking their place in the quarter-finals without losing a game.&nbsp;Since India had already secured the tie, the two scheduled doubles matches were cancelled.<h3>Sindhu, Hooda and Tanvi shine</h3>Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu gave India the perfect start against Kamila Smagulova and completed a comfortable 21-7, 21-9 victory in just 24 minutes. Sindhu controlled the match from the beginning and never allowed her opponent to settle.&nbsp;Unnati Hooda then extended India’s lead by defeating Alissa Kuleshova 21-7, 21-10 in 22 minutes.&nbsp;Tanvi Sharma sealed the tie in the third singles match against Diana Namenova and produced another dominant performance, winning 21-5, 21-10 in only 19 minutes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-want-to-harry-brook-reveals-reason-for-avoiding-franchise-cricket-1789900332385">‘I want to…’: Harry Brook reveals reason for avoiding franchise cricket</a>&nbsp;Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were scheduled to play Nargiza Rakhmetullayeva and Aisha Zhumabek, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were set to face Kuleshova and Namenova. However, both matches were called off after India secured the required three wins.&nbsp;India have never won gold in the women’s team event at the Asian Games. Their best results are bronze medals from the 1982 New Delhi Games and the 2014 Incheon Games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-elavenil-valarivan-silver-women-10m-air-rifle-1789888255969">Asian Games: India's Elavenil Valarivan bags silver in women's 10m air rifle</a>&nbsp;India will next face hosts Japan in the quarter-finals on Sept 22, with the tie scheduled to begin at 6:00 am IST.&nbsp;The Indian men’s badminton team will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on Sep 21 at 11:30 am IST and the squad includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila.

PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma secured singles victories as India swept Kazakhstan 3-0 in the women's team round of 16 at the Asian Games 2026. India now face Japan in the quarter-finals, with a place in the medal rounds on the line.

India’s women’s badminton team began its Asian Games 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Kazakhstan in the Round of 16 at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Sunday (Sep 20). PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma all won their respective singles matches in straight games, giving India an unassailable lead and booking their place in the quarter-finals without losing a game. Since India had already secured the tie, the two scheduled doubles matches were cancelled. Sindhu, Hooda and Tanvi shine Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu gave India the perfect start against Kamila Smagulova and completed a comfortable 21-7, 21-9 victory in just 24 minutes. Sindhu controlled the match from the beginning and never allowed her opponent to settle. Unnati Hooda then extended India’s lead by defeating Alissa Kuleshova 21-7, 21-10 in 22 minutes. Tanvi Sharma sealed the tie in the third singles match against Diana Namenova and produced another dominant performance, winning 21-5, 21-10 in only 19 minutes. Also Read - ‘I want to…’: Harry Brook reveals reason for avoiding franchise cricket Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were scheduled to play Nargiza Rakhmetullayeva and Aisha Zhumabek, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were set to face Kuleshova and Namenova. However, both matches were called off after India secured the required three wins. India have never won gold in the women’s team event at the Asian Games. Their best results are bronze medals from the 1982 New Delhi Games and the 2014 Incheon Games. Also Read - Asian Games: India's Elavenil Valarivan bags silver in women's 10m air rifle India will next face hosts Japan in the quarter-finals on Sept 22, with the tie scheduled to begin at 6:00 am IST. The Indian men’s badminton team will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on Sep 21 at 11:30 am IST and the squad includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila.

PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma secured singles victories as India swept Kazakhstan 3-0 in the women's team round of 16 at the Asian Games 2026. India now face Japan in the quarter-finals, with a place in the medal rounds on the line.

Asian Games: PV Sindhu shines as India crush Kazakhstan to reach quarterfinals

PV Sindhu was left to rue a lack of patience in the closing stages after her BWF World Championships campaign ended with a defeat to China's Wang Zhi Yi. Sindhu, who was involved in a closely fought battle, felt the contest was largely under her control but admitted that she could have handled the crucial moments at the end better. “I think in the overall game, especially in the end, I should have been a little more patient,” Sindhu said after the match.&nbsp;“I can't see any loopholes in between the points. I think in the end especially I should have been a little more patient. That's what I can see from today's game and in the last 3-4 points.” The former world champion was understandably disappointed with the result, particularly after being in contention for much of the match. “Yeah, disappointed of course. Sad about it, I should have converted that. But yeah, I mean that's how it is, that's how sport is,” Sindhu said. “You learn, you lose a lot, you win a lot. I mean when you lose you need to deal with it and bounce back stronger from your mistakes.”&nbsp;Sindhu also acknowledged that defeat is an unavoidable part of a sporting career and stressed the importance of learning from setbacks. “Because you know, you can't win all the time. At the same time, when you lose you should be able to take it as well,” she said. The Indian also addressed the situation surrounding Wang during the match, with the Chinese player appearing to struggle physically at certain stages. Sindhu said she could not know for certain whether Wang was genuinely injured and instead had to remain focused on her own game. “I think there's nothing being tough. I don't know if she's injured or not. Maybe that is her strategy or her way of doing it. You never know. Maybe that's her gameplay,” Sindhu said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-2026-treesa-gayatri-create-history-satwik-chirag-enter-quarters-while-sindhu-and-ayush-bow-out-1787245802814">BWF World Championships 2026: Treesa-Gayatri create history; Satwik-Chirag enter quarters, while Sindhu and Ayush bow out</a>&nbsp;“But I had to be very focused and very patient and focus on every point.” For Sindhu, the immediate focus now shifts towards identifying the areas that need improvement ahead of the Asian Games. “Definitely a lot of lessons to be taken. From today's game, I'm going to go and discuss with my coach what needs to be done. And accordingly we'll work out whatever it is. Physically or mentally or stroke-wise or whatever it is,” she said.&nbsp;The defeat, however, has not diminished Sindhu's hunger to return stronger. “Yes, definitely yes,” she said when asked if the loss had made her more determined. “Because you want to win, you have that urge to win always. But it is disappointing when you lose. I think that also gives you a chance where you want to come back and bounce back stronger.”&nbsp;Sindhu also took a positive from the match, pointing to her physical condition and the fact that she still had plenty left in the tank deep into the contest. “That is a positive thing. I think I should just go back and maybe just work a little bit on my strokes,” she said. “And yeah, I think it was just her day today. That is all I can say because overall it was a good badminton.” For Sindhu, then, the World Championships exit is less a full stop than another lesson. The former champion knows exactly what she wants to take away from the defeat, greater patience when the biggest points arrive.

PV Sindhu admitted she lacked patience in the final points of her BWF World Championships defeat to Wang Zhi Yi and vowed to bounce back stronger.

PV Sindhu was left to rue a lack of patience in the closing stages after her BWF World Championships campaign ended with a defeat to China's Wang Zhi Yi. Sindhu, who was involved in a closely fought battle, felt the contest was largely under her control but admitted that she could have handled the crucial moments at the end better. “I think in the overall game, especially in the end, I should have been a little more patient,” Sindhu said after the match. “I can't see any loopholes in between the points. I think in the end especially I should have been a little more patient. That's what I can see from today's game and in the last 3-4 points.” The former world champion was understandably disappointed with the result, particularly after being in contention for much of the match. “Yeah, disappointed of course. Sad about it, I should have converted that. But yeah, I mean that's how it is, that's how sport is,” Sindhu said. “You learn, you lose a lot, you win a lot. I mean when you lose you need to deal with it and bounce back stronger from your mistakes.” Sindhu also acknowledged that defeat is an unavoidable part of a sporting career and stressed the importance of learning from setbacks. “Because you know, you can't win all the time. At the same time, when you lose you should be able to take it as well,” she said. The Indian also addressed the situation surrounding Wang during the match, with the Chinese player appearing to struggle physically at certain stages. Sindhu said she could not know for certain whether Wang was genuinely injured and instead had to remain focused on her own game. “I think there's nothing being tough. I don't know if she's injured or not. Maybe that is her strategy or her way of doing it. You never know. Maybe that's her gameplay,” Sindhu said. Also Read: BWF World Championships 2026: Treesa-Gayatri create history; Satwik-Chirag enter quarters, while Sindhu and Ayush bow out “But I had to be very focused and very patient and focus on every point.” For Sindhu, the immediate focus now shifts towards identifying the areas that need improvement ahead of the Asian Games. “Definitely a lot of lessons to be taken. From today's game, I'm going to go and discuss with my coach what needs to be done. And accordingly we'll work out whatever it is. Physically or mentally or stroke-wise or whatever it is,” she said. The defeat, however, has not diminished Sindhu's hunger to return stronger. “Yes, definitely yes,” she said when asked if the loss had made her more determined. “Because you want to win, you have that urge to win always. But it is disappointing when you lose. I think that also gives you a chance where you want to come back and bounce back stronger.” Sindhu also took a positive from the match, pointing to her physical condition and the fact that she still had plenty left in the tank deep into the contest. “That is a positive thing. I think I should just go back and maybe just work a little bit on my strokes,” she said. “And yeah, I think it was just her day today. That is all I can say because overall it was a good badminton.” For Sindhu, then, the World Championships exit is less a full stop than another lesson. The former champion knows exactly what she wants to take away from the defeat, greater patience when the biggest points arrive.

PV Sindhu reflects on her defeat to Wang Zhi Yi at the BWF World Championships, admitting she needed more patience in the crucial final points

BWF World Championships 2026: ‘I don’t know if she was hurt or it was her strategy’: PV Sindhu after defeat to Wang Zhi Yi

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand produced a dominant performance to script history at the BWF World Championships, becoming the first Indian women's doubles pair in 11 years to reach the quarterfinals. The world no. 39 Indians stunned seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan 21-16, 21-12 to book their place in the last eight. They will next face fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shi Xian of China.&nbsp;Two-time bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also kept India's medal hopes alive with a hard-fought 21-23, 21-19, 21-17 victory over Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King. The Indian duo will take on third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China in the quarterfinals. However, it was a disappointing day in the singles events for India. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu's bid for a sixth World Championships medal came to an end after she lost 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 to third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China. Rising Indian star Ayush Shetty was also knocked out, going down 21-19, 21-11 to Indonesia's Alwi Farhan.The contrasting results meant that Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chirag carried India's hopes of extending its World Championships medal streak, which began in 2011.<h2>Treesa and Gayatri deliver a historic win</h2>Treesa and Gayatri controlled much of their match against the Japanese seventh seeds, combining aggressive attacking play with smart changes of pace. The Indians raced to a 13-9 lead in the opening game before Iwanaga and Nakanishi responded with longer rallies and forced errors from their opponents. The Japanese pair then won seven consecutive points, putting themselves in a strong position.&nbsp;But Treesa and Gayatri responded brilliantly. They regrouped immediately and produced an eight-point winning streak of their own to take the opening game. The second game was far more one-sided. Riding the momentum from the first, the Indians kept their opponents under pressure with quick drops and crosscourt smashes. They closed out the match in just 44 minutes.&nbsp;Their victory marks the first time an Indian women's doubles combination has reached the World Championships quarterfinals since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa achieved the feat at the 2015 edition in Jakarta. "Initially, it was neck to neck and our coaches asked us to attack. Attacking game is our strength and we were very calm when we were leading," said Gayatri. Treesa and Gayatri had previously broken into the world top 10 but were forced to deal with injuries that affected their progress. Their latest victory now puts them within two wins of a World Championships medal.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-women-s-hockey-world-cup-india-hold-england-to-goalless-draw-advance-to-round-2-1787241065514">FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup: India hold England to goalless draw, advance to Round 2</a><h2>Satwik-Chirag survive thriller</h2>Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were made to work hard by Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King. The Malaysians edged a closely contested opening game despite the Indian pair saving two game points. Satwik and Chirag then showed composure in the second game, fighting back from 16-18 down to force a decider. The final game followed a similar pattern. The Indians trailed 12-15 but levelled the scores at 17-17 before winning the next four points to secure their quarterfinal place. The victory keeps alive the hopes of the two-time bronze medallists, who will now face China's third-seeded pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.<h2>Sindhu falls after gruelling battle</h2>Earlier, PV Sindhu fought for 88 minutes against third seed Wang Zhi Yi but ultimately fell short in a dramatic three-game contest.Sindhu struggled to find her rhythm in the opening game, allowing Wang to take control. The Indian responded strongly in the second, however, winning six consecutive points from 15-15 to force a decider.&nbsp;Sindhu made the better start to the final game, opening an 8-4 lead. Wang fought back to level at 9-9 before Sindhu again moved ahead 13-10. The Chinese player then capitalised on a series of errors from Sindhu to take the lead after winning five straight points. The intensity increased in the closing stages, with both players involved in several rallies lasting more than 30 shots. One 54-shot exchange at 17-18 left both competitors visibly exhausted. Wang eventually sealed victory with a crosscourt smash.&nbsp;The defeat ended Sindhu's unbeaten World Championships record against Wang and also brought her hopes of winning a sixth medal at the event to an end. "I should have stayed patient (in the third game). It was going good and I am disappointed with the final result as I should have converted the advantage," Sindhu said after the match.<h2>Ayush Shetty's campaign ends</h2>Ayush Shetty's impressive run also came to an end in the men's singles. After making headlines as a giant-killer earlier in the tournament, the Indian lost 21-19, 21-11 to Indonesia's Alwi Farhan. With Sindhu and Ayush eliminated, India's remaining medal hopes now rest heavily on the doubles combinations, with Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chirag both targeting semifinal berths.<h2>Important results:</h2>Men's Singles: 7-Victor Lai (CAN) bt 13-Loh Kean Yew (SGP) 22-20, 21-18; Rasmus Gemke (DEN) bt 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) 11-21, 21-13, 21-18; 11-Alwi Farhan (INA) bt Ayush Shetty (IND) 21-19, 21-11; 10-Kodai Naraoka (JPN) bt 8-Li Shi Feng (CHN) 13-21, 23-21, 21-11Women's Singles: 1-An Se Young (KOR) bt 16-Mia Blichfeldt (DEN) 21-16, 21-10; 10-Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA) bt 4-Chen Yufei (CHN) 15-21, 25-23, 21-17; 13-Michelle Li (CAN) bt 8-Tomoka Miyazaki (JPN) 17-21, 21-16, 21-18; 2-Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) bt 14-Sim You Jin (KOR) 21-17, 21-10; 15-Line Chirstophersen (DEN) bt 6-Putri Wardani (INA) 21-18, 21-17; 3-Wang Zhi Yi (CHN) bt 9-PV Sindhu (IND) 21-11, 15-21, 21-17Men's Doubles: 5-Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (IND) bt Junaidi Arif/Yap Roy King (MAS) 21-23, 21-19, 21-17; 3-Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (CHN) bt Kim Astrup/Anders Rasmussen (DEN) 22-20, 8-21, 21-19Women's doubles: Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly (IND) bt 7-Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi (JPN) 21-16, 21-12; 4-Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian bt Hsieh Pei Shan/Hung En-Tzu (TPE) 21-11, 21-18; 13-Febriana Kusuma/Meilysa Puspitasari (INA) bt 5-Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (MAS) 20-22, 21-18, 21-12;Mixed Doubles: 6-Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (CHN) bt 15-Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (IND) 21-16, 21-5; 11-Yang Po-Husan/Hu Ling Fang (TPE) bt 3-Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Boje (DEN) 21-13, 9-21, 21-14

Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand make history at the BWF World Championships, while Satwik-Chirag reach quarters and PV Sindhu exits

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand produced a dominant performance to script history at the BWF World Championships, becoming the first Indian women's doubles pair in 11 years to reach the quarterfinals. The world no. 39 Indians stunned seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan 21-16, 21-12 to book their place in the last eight. They will next face fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shi Xian of China. Two-time bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also kept India's medal hopes alive with a hard-fought 21-23, 21-19, 21-17 victory over Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King. The Indian duo will take on third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China in the quarterfinals. However, it was a disappointing day in the singles events for India. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu's bid for a sixth World Championships medal came to an end after she lost 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 to third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China. Rising Indian star Ayush Shetty was also knocked out, going down 21-19, 21-11 to Indonesia's Alwi Farhan. The contrasting results meant that Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chirag carried India's hopes of extending its World Championships medal streak, which began in 2011. Treesa and Gayatri deliver a historic win Treesa and Gayatri controlled much of their match against the Japanese seventh seeds, combining aggressive attacking play with smart changes of pace. The Indians raced to a 13-9 lead in the opening game before Iwanaga and Nakanishi responded with longer rallies and forced errors from their opponents. The Japanese pair then won seven consecutive points, putting themselves in a strong position. But Treesa and Gayatri responded brilliantly. They regrouped immediately and produced an eight-point winning streak of their own to take the opening game. The second game was far more one-sided. Riding the momentum from the first, the Indians kept their opponents under pressure with quick drops and crosscourt smashes. They closed out the match in just 44 minutes. Their victory marks the first time an Indian women's doubles combination has reached the World Championships quarterfinals since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa achieved the feat at the 2015 edition in Jakarta. "Initially, it was neck to neck and our coaches asked us to attack. Attacking game is our strength and we were very calm when we were leading," said Gayatri. Treesa and Gayatri had previously broken into the world top 10 but were forced to deal with injuries that affected their progress. Their latest victory now puts them within two wins of a World Championships medal. Also Read: FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup: India hold England to goalless draw, advance to Round 2 Satwik-Chirag survive thriller Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were made to work hard by Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King. The Malaysians edged a closely contested opening game despite the Indian pair saving two game points. Satwik and Chirag then showed composure in the second game, fighting back from 16-18 down to force a decider. The final game followed a similar pattern. The Indians trailed 12-15 but levelled the scores at 17-17 before winning the next four points to secure their quarterfinal place. The victory keeps alive the hopes of the two-time bronze medallists, who will now face China's third-seeded pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. Sindhu falls after gruelling battle Earlier, PV Sindhu fought for 88 minutes against third seed Wang Zhi Yi but ultimately fell short in a dramatic three-game contest. Sindhu struggled to find her rhythm in the opening game, allowing Wang to take control. The Indian responded strongly in the second, however, winning six consecutive points from 15-15 to force a decider. Sindhu made the better start to the final game, opening an 8-4 lead. Wang fought back to level at 9-9 before Sindhu again moved ahead 13-10. The Chinese player then capitalised on a series of errors from Sindhu to take the lead after winning five straight points. The intensity increased in the closing stages, with both players involved in several rallies lasting more than 30 shots. One 54-shot exchange at 17-18 left both competitors visibly exhausted. Wang eventually sealed victory with a crosscourt smash. The defeat ended Sindhu's unbeaten World Championships record against Wang and also brought her hopes of winning a sixth medal at the event to an end. "I should have stayed patient (in the third game). It was going good and I am disappointed with the final result as I should have converted the advantage," Sindhu said after the match. Ayush Shetty's campaign ends Ayush Shetty's impressive run also came to an end in the men's singles. After making headlines as a giant-killer earlier in the tournament, the Indian lost 21-19, 21-11 to Indonesia's Alwi Farhan. With Sindhu and Ayush eliminated, India's remaining medal hopes now rest heavily on the doubles combinations, with Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chirag both targeting semifinal berths. Important results: Men's Singles: 7-Victor Lai (CAN) bt 13-Loh Kean Yew (SGP) 22-20, 21-18; Rasmus Gemke (DEN) bt 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) 11-21, 21-13, 21-18; 11-Alwi Farhan (INA) bt Ayush Shetty (IND) 21-19, 21-11; 10-Kodai Naraoka (JPN) bt 8-Li Shi Feng (CHN) 13-21, 23-21, 21-11 Women's Singles: 1-An Se Young (KOR) bt 16-Mia Blichfeldt (DEN) 21-16, 21-10; 10-Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA) bt 4-Chen Yufei (CHN) 15-21, 25-23, 21-17; 13-Michelle Li (CAN) bt 8-Tomoka Miyazaki (JPN) 17-21, 21-16, 21-18; 2-Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) bt 14-Sim You Jin (KOR) 21-17, 21-10; 15-Line Chirstophersen (DEN) bt 6-Putri Wardani (INA) 21-18, 21-17; 3-Wang Zhi Yi (CHN) bt 9-PV Sindhu (IND) 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 Men's Doubles: 5-Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (IND) bt Junaidi Arif/Yap Roy King (MAS) 21-23, 21-19, 21-17; 3-Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (CHN) bt Kim Astrup/Anders Rasmussen (DEN) 22-20, 8-21, 21-19 Women's doubles: Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly (IND) bt 7-Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi (JPN) 21-16, 21-12; 4-Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian bt Hsieh Pei Shan/Hung En-Tzu (TPE) 21-11, 21-18; 13-Febriana Kusuma/Meilysa Puspitasari (INA) bt 5-Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (MAS) 20-22, 21-18, 21-12; Mixed Doubles: 6-Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (CHN) bt 15-Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (IND) 21-16, 21-5; 11-Yang Po-Husan/Hu Ling Fang (TPE) bt 3-Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Boje (DEN) 21-13, 9-21, 21-14

Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Satwik-Chirag reach World Championships quarters, while PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty exit in singles

BWF World Championships 2026: Treesa-Gayatri create history; Satwik-Chirag enter quarters, while Sindhu and Ayush bow out

India’s badminton campaign at the World Championships in New Delhi has produced contrasting results, with PV Sindhu advancing to the round of 16 while Lakshya Sen suffered a shock second-round exit.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, India’s only badminton world champion after winning the 2019 title, defeated Canada’s Michelle Li 21-16, 21-17 in 34 minutes. Sindhu, a ninth seed and five-time World Championships medallist, will now face a tough challenge against third seed Wang Zhiyi of China.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty continued his impressive run with a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka’s Viran Kumara, keeping India’s hopes alive in the draw.

However, home favourite Lakshya Sen suffered a major upset in the round of 32. The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist was defeated by 18-year-old American Alex Lanier in a dramatic three-game contest.

With Lakshya out, Ayush Shetty is now India’s only remaining men’s singles player at the tournament.

PV Sindhu Reaches World Championships Round Of 16 As Lakshya Sen Suffers Shock Exit

Former world champion PV Sindhu knows she will have little room for error when she takes on familiar opponent Wang Zi Ying of China in the third round of the BWF World Championships 2026, but the Indian star is ready for the challenge. Sindhu, seeded ninth, moved into the third round with a 21-16, 21-17 win over Canada's Zhang Wen Yu on Wednesday. She will now face Wang, an opponent she has played several times before, with both players well aware of each other's game.&nbsp;“It will be difficult, obviously. There won't be any easy matches. When we are playing with top athletes, we can't expect easy matches or easy points,” Sindhu said after her second-round win. “We have to be prepared for long matches. I am ready for it. I have played against Wang Zi a lot of times. Of course, I have played against her. We know each other's game. I need to give my best and play my game.”&nbsp;Sindhu, who also reflected on her experience of playing at the World Championships, said she is hoping to produce another strong result but knows she will have to remain switched on throughout the contest. “I am hoping for a good result this time as well. I need to be prepared for everything. When you are playing against a top athlete, you can't expect easy points. You need to be prepared for those long rallies and long games,” she said. “You need to be consistent every single time. Every point matters. You can't give easy points away. I hope I give my best and be on the winning side.”&nbsp;The Indian did acknowledge that she made some unforced errors against Zhang, but felt she was able to rectify the problems during the match. She also pointed to the changing court conditions as a factor. “Today, I felt the court was different from the first day. According to my understanding, there were some unforced errors where I was hitting side outs. That's what I felt. But then I rectified and came back after 11 points in the second set as well,” Sindhu said. “I maintained it and consistently I was getting points. Going into tomorrow's match, I need to focus on playing my best, playing a safe game and being consistent.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/every-guy-needs-motherly-coaching-the-lady-luck-behind-garret-tan-s-stunning-lakshya-sen-upset-1787158651755">‘Every guy needs motherly coaching’: The lady luck behind Garret Tan’s stunning Lakshya Sen upset</a>&nbsp;For the 31-year-old, managing her body and recovery has become an increasingly important part of competing at the highest level. Sindhu believes athletes need to understand that their bodies may not always match what their minds are demanding from them. “I think recovery plays a very major role. Back then, when you were in your 20s, you could play and come back. You could keep going on and on. But after a certain time, you also need to understand. You are not 20 or 19 anymore. You need to understand your body and accordingly, smartly make those changes,” she said.&nbsp;“Today, you might play 80% tomorrow. The next day, you might play 50%. That is okay. It depends on your body. Your mind might say, I can do it. But your body might not be able to support you that way.” Sindhu stressed that sports science has become an important part of managing the demands of a long season, particularly when players have to recover quickly between gruelling matches. “That is when you accordingly make sure you see how your strain is, how your energy levels are and accordingly keep changing. That is when I feel sports science comes into picture,” she said.&nbsp;“I think that is very important for an athlete because you need to be able to manage. We have a number of tournaments. To pick and choose smartly what needs to be done. Immediately after those long matches, how do you recover faster for the next match? These are the aspects we need to focus on and be prepared.”&nbsp;&nbsp;For Sindhu, the key will be to leave mistakes behind and immediately shift focus to the next point. “It is completely okay if you make mistakes. Coming back immediately to the next point or knowing what your mistake is and accordingly discussing with your coach and coming back and focusing on the next point is important,” she said. “Because what has gone, has gone. You need to focus on what is next.”&nbsp;Sindhu also clarified her observation about the court conditions, saying the drift appeared to have changed compared to her opening-round match on Monday. “On Monday, I think the drift was on the other side is what I felt. Today, it was a little bit on the other side. That is what I felt personally. That is my personal opinion.”

PV Sindhu discusses her tough Wang Zi Ying challenge, long rallies, recovery, court conditions and India's emerging badminton stars at the 2026 World Championships

Former world champion PV Sindhu knows she will have little room for error when she takes on familiar opponent Wang Zi Ying of China in the third round of the BWF World Championships 2026, but the Indian star is ready for the challenge. Sindhu, seeded ninth, moved into the third round with a 21-16, 21-17 win over Canada's Zhang Wen Yu on Wednesday. She will now face Wang, an opponent she has played several times before, with both players well aware of each other's game. “It will be difficult, obviously. There won't be any easy matches. When we are playing with top athletes, we can't expect easy matches or easy points,” Sindhu said after her second-round win. “We have to be prepared for long matches. I am ready for it. I have played against Wang Zi a lot of times. Of course, I have played against her. We know each other's game. I need to give my best and play my game.” Sindhu, who also reflected on her experience of playing at the World Championships, said she is hoping to produce another strong result but knows she will have to remain switched on throughout the contest. “I am hoping for a good result this time as well. I need to be prepared for everything. When you are playing against a top athlete, you can't expect easy points. You need to be prepared for those long rallies and long games,” she said. “You need to be consistent every single time. Every point matters. You can't give easy points away. I hope I give my best and be on the winning side.” The Indian did acknowledge that she made some unforced errors against Zhang, but felt she was able to rectify the problems during the match. She also pointed to the changing court conditions as a factor. “Today, I felt the court was different from the first day. According to my understanding, there were some unforced errors where I was hitting side outs. That's what I felt. But then I rectified and came back after 11 points in the second set as well,” Sindhu said. “I maintained it and consistently I was getting points. Going into tomorrow's match, I need to focus on playing my best, playing a safe game and being consistent.” Also Read: ‘Every guy needs motherly coaching’: The lady luck behind Garret Tan’s stunning Lakshya Sen upset For the 31-year-old, managing her body and recovery has become an increasingly important part of competing at the highest level. Sindhu believes athletes need to understand that their bodies may not always match what their minds are demanding from them. “I think recovery plays a very major role. Back then, when you were in your 20s, you could play and come back. You could keep going on and on. But after a certain time, you also need to understand. You are not 20 or 19 anymore. You need to understand your body and accordingly, smartly make those changes,” she said. “Today, you might play 80% tomorrow. The next day, you might play 50%. That is okay. It depends on your body. Your mind might say, I can do it. But your body might not be able to support you that way.” Sindhu stressed that sports science has become an important part of managing the demands of a long season, particularly when players have to recover quickly between gruelling matches. “That is when you accordingly make sure you see how your strain is, how your energy levels are and accordingly keep changing. That is when I feel sports science comes into picture,” she said. “I think that is very important for an athlete because you need to be able to manage. We have a number of tournaments. To pick and choose smartly what needs to be done. Immediately after those long matches, how do you recover faster for the next match? These are the aspects we need to focus on and be prepared.” For Sindhu, the key will be to leave mistakes behind and immediately shift focus to the next point. “It is completely okay if you make mistakes. Coming back immediately to the next point or knowing what your mistake is and accordingly discussing with your coach and coming back and focusing on the next point is important,” she said. “Because what has gone, has gone. You need to focus on what is next.” Sindhu also clarified her observation about the court conditions, saying the drift appeared to have changed compared to her opening-round match on Monday. “On Monday, I think the drift was on the other side is what I felt. Today, it was a little bit on the other side. That is what I felt personally. That is my personal opinion.”

PV Sindhu expects a tough battle against familiar foe Wang Zi Ying and says consistency, adaptability and recovery will be key at the World Championships

BWF World Championships 2026: Familiar foe, fresh battle: PV Sindhu braces for Wang Zi Ying showdown, says 'you can’t expect easy points'

Former champion PV Sindhu and giant-killer Ayush Shetty marched into the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026 with comfortable victories, but it was a day of contrasting fortunes for the Indian hosts at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Wednesday (August 19). Ninth seed Sindhu made light work of Canada's Zhang Wen Yu, winning 21-16, 21-17 in the women's singles second round. The two-time Olympic medallist will next face a stern challenge from third seed Wang Zi Yi of China, who defeated Malaysia's Karuoathevan Letshanaa 21-16, 21-9.&nbsp;Ayush was equally dominant in the men's singles, needing only 26 minutes to dispatch Sri Lanka's Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10. The 2023 world junior champion will face Indonesia's 11th seed Alwi Farhan in the round of 16 after Farhan defeated Finland's Joakim Oldorff 21-12, 21-9. There was also good news in men's doubles for India as two-time world championships bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the pre-quarterfinals without hitting a single shot.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their Scottish opponents, Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall, conceded a walkover after Dunn suffered an injury. However, India's campaign suffered two major setbacks as Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda crashed out.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-pakistan-fih-hockey-world-cup-5-3-result-1787151650355">India outclass Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for second round at FIH World Cup</a><h2>Lakshya Sen, Unnati Hooda knocked out</h2>14th seed Lakshya was stunned by 18-year-old American Garret Tan in a bruising battle, going down 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 after one hour and 13 minutes. Lakshya took the opening game but Tan refused to back down, repeatedly troubling the Indian with his powerful smashes. The American then claimed the second game despite Lakshya saving four game points to force a decider.&nbsp;Tan surged 11-4 ahead in the final game before Lakshya mounted a spirited comeback to close the gap to 16-17. But a couple of errors from the Indian, combined with Tan's aggressive play, ended Lakshya's hopes of completing the comeback. Unnati, meanwhile, came agonisingly close to a major upset on her World Championships debut against 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. The Indian lost the opening game 11-21 but fought back brilliantly to take the second 21-9. In a tense decider, Unnati earned two match points but could not convert either opportunity, with her pushes going wide on both occasions.&nbsp;Li seized the opening and eventually closed out the contest 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 with a down-the-line smash. With Sindhu, Ayush and the Satwik-Chirag pair safely through, India will now look to build momentum in the knockout rounds, while Lakshya and Unnati are left to rue missed opportunities on a mixed day for the hosts.<h2>Important results:</h2>Men's Singles: Ayush Shetty (IND) bt Dumindu Abeywickrama (SL) 21-8, 21-10; Gareth Tan (USA) bt 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) 19-21, 21-19, 21-17; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Jia Heng Teh (SIN) 19-21, 21-19, 21-11; Rasmus Gemme (DEN) bt Lin Chun-Yi (TPE) 13-21, 21-17, 21-11;Women's Singles: 9-PV Sindhu (IND) bt Zhang Wen Yu 21-16, 21-17 ; 13-Michelle Li (CAN) bt Unnati Hood (IND) 11-21, 21-9, 23-21Mixed Doubles: 15-Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (IND) bt Leong Lok Chong/Ng Weng Chi (MAC) 21-11, 21-11

BWF World Championships 2026: PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty advance to the pre-quarters, while Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda bow out in Delhi

Former champion PV Sindhu and giant-killer Ayush Shetty marched into the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026 with comfortable victories, but it was a day of contrasting fortunes for the Indian hosts at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Wednesday (August 19). Ninth seed Sindhu made light work of Canada's Zhang Wen Yu, winning 21-16, 21-17 in the women's singles second round. The two-time Olympic medallist will next face a stern challenge from third seed Wang Zi Yi of China, who defeated Malaysia's Karuoathevan Letshanaa 21-16, 21-9. Ayush was equally dominant in the men's singles, needing only 26 minutes to dispatch Sri Lanka's Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10. The 2023 world junior champion will face Indonesia's 11th seed Alwi Farhan in the round of 16 after Farhan defeated Finland's Joakim Oldorff 21-12, 21-9. There was also good news in men's doubles for India as two-time world championships bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the pre-quarterfinals without hitting a single shot. Their Scottish opponents, Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall, conceded a walkover after Dunn suffered an injury. However, India's campaign suffered two major setbacks as Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda crashed out. Also Read: India outclass Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for second round at FIH World Cup Lakshya Sen, Unnati Hooda knocked out 14th seed Lakshya was stunned by 18-year-old American Garret Tan in a bruising battle, going down 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 after one hour and 13 minutes. Lakshya took the opening game but Tan refused to back down, repeatedly troubling the Indian with his powerful smashes. The American then claimed the second game despite Lakshya saving four game points to force a decider. Tan surged 11-4 ahead in the final game before Lakshya mounted a spirited comeback to close the gap to 16-17. But a couple of errors from the Indian, combined with Tan's aggressive play, ended Lakshya's hopes of completing the comeback. Unnati, meanwhile, came agonisingly close to a major upset on her World Championships debut against 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. The Indian lost the opening game 11-21 but fought back brilliantly to take the second 21-9. In a tense decider, Unnati earned two match points but could not convert either opportunity, with her pushes going wide on both occasions. Li seized the opening and eventually closed out the contest 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 with a down-the-line smash. With Sindhu, Ayush and the Satwik-Chirag pair safely through, India will now look to build momentum in the knockout rounds, while Lakshya and Unnati are left to rue missed opportunities on a mixed day for the hosts. Important results: Men's Singles: Ayush Shetty (IND) bt Dumindu Abeywickrama (SL) 21-8, 21-10; Gareth Tan (USA) bt 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) 19-21, 21-19, 21-17; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Jia Heng Teh (SIN) 19-21, 21-19, 21-11; Rasmus Gemme (DEN) bt Lin Chun-Yi (TPE) 13-21, 21-17, 21-11; Women's Singles: 9-PV Sindhu (IND) bt Zhang Wen Yu 21-16, 21-17 ; 13-Michelle Li (CAN) bt Unnati Hood (IND) 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 Mixed Doubles: 15-Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (IND) bt Leong Lok Chong/Ng Weng Chi (MAC) 21-11, 21-11

PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty advanced to the BWF World Championships pre-quarters, while Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda suffered heartbreaking exits

BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Ayush march on as Lakshya, Unnati bow out

Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of his young career, defeating reigning world champion and world no. 1 Shi Yuqi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a thrilling Round of 64 clash at the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi on Monday (August 17). Roared on by a packed crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Shetty played with remarkable confidence against the defending champion. The Indian youngster attacked aggressively from the start, making sharp moves at the net, taking the shuttle early and using his powerful smashes to control the opening game 21-14.&nbsp;The victory marked a stunning turnaround from their previous meeting in the Badminton Asia Championships final, where Shi dominated the contest and finished the match in just 40 minutes. Shi responded strongly in the second game, building a 15-11 lead before closing it out 21-13 to level the match and force a decider. The final game was a tense battle. Shetty established an early 11-5 advantage at the changeover, but Shi fought back relentlessly and narrowed the gap as the pressure mounted.&nbsp;With the home crowd firmly behind him, Shetty kept his composure during the crucial closing points. He held his nerve to win the decider 21-19 and complete a stunning three-game victory. The result marks a huge World Championships upset, with Shetty knocking out both the world no. 1 and the defending champion in emphatic fashion.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-suthar-jadeja-star-as-sri-lanka-bowled-out-for-284-india-lead-by-178-1786969216063">IND vs SL, 1st Test: Suthar, Jadeja star as Sri Lanka bowled out for 284, India lead by 178</a>&nbsp;Earlier in the day, Indian badminton star PV Sindhu made a strong start to the 2026 BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, defeating Ireland’s Sophia Noble in straight games, 21-7, 21-11, in the women’s singles Round of 64. Playing in front of the home crowd, Sindhu dominated from the outset with precise drop shots and powerful smashes. Noble struggled to match her pace and attacking intensity as Sindhu comfortably took the opening game. The Indian continued her control in the second, fending off Noble’s attempts to fight back and sealing a convincing victory.&nbsp;With the win, Sindhu advanced to the Round of 32, where she will face Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang on Tuesday. The victory also adds to her remarkable World Championships record. Sindhu has now won five medals at the tournament, one gold, two silver and two bronze, matching China’s Zhang Ning for the most women’s singles medals in World Championships history.&nbsp;In the women’s doubles, Indian pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also began their campaign with a comfortable victory. The World No. 19 duo defeated Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez 21-9, 21-13 in just over 30 minutes.Treesa and Gayatri controlled the contest from the beginning, with Treesa’s powerful smashes and Gayatri’s quick play at the net proving effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Spanish pair showed some resistance in the second game, but the Indians maintained their composure and led 11-7 at the interval before pulling away after the break. Treesa and Gayatri will meet American pair Lauren Lam and Allison Lee in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.

Ayush Shetty stuns Shi Yuqi at the 2026 BWF World Championships, while PV Sindhu and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand advance in New Delhi

Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of his young career, defeating reigning world champion and world no. 1 Shi Yuqi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a thrilling Round of 64 clash at the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi on Monday (August 17). Roared on by a packed crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Shetty played with remarkable confidence against the defending champion. The Indian youngster attacked aggressively from the start, making sharp moves at the net, taking the shuttle early and using his powerful smashes to control the opening game 21-14. The victory marked a stunning turnaround from their previous meeting in the Badminton Asia Championships final, where Shi dominated the contest and finished the match in just 40 minutes. Shi responded strongly in the second game, building a 15-11 lead before closing it out 21-13 to level the match and force a decider. The final game was a tense battle. Shetty established an early 11-5 advantage at the changeover, but Shi fought back relentlessly and narrowed the gap as the pressure mounted. With the home crowd firmly behind him, Shetty kept his composure during the crucial closing points. He held his nerve to win the decider 21-19 and complete a stunning three-game victory. The result marks a huge World Championships upset, with Shetty knocking out both the world no. 1 and the defending champion in emphatic fashion. Also Read: IND vs SL, 1st Test: Suthar, Jadeja star as Sri Lanka bowled out for 284, India lead by 178 Earlier in the day, Indian badminton star PV Sindhu made a strong start to the 2026 BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, defeating Ireland’s Sophia Noble in straight games, 21-7, 21-11, in the women’s singles Round of 64. Playing in front of the home crowd, Sindhu dominated from the outset with precise drop shots and powerful smashes. Noble struggled to match her pace and attacking intensity as Sindhu comfortably took the opening game. The Indian continued her control in the second, fending off Noble’s attempts to fight back and sealing a convincing victory. With the win, Sindhu advanced to the Round of 32, where she will face Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang on Tuesday. The victory also adds to her remarkable World Championships record. Sindhu has now won five medals at the tournament, one gold, two silver and two bronze, matching China’s Zhang Ning for the most women’s singles medals in World Championships history. In the women’s doubles, Indian pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also began their campaign with a comfortable victory. The World No. 19 duo defeated Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez 21-9, 21-13 in just over 30 minutes. Treesa and Gayatri controlled the contest from the beginning, with Treesa’s powerful smashes and Gayatri’s quick play at the net proving effective. The Spanish pair showed some resistance in the second game, but the Indians maintained their composure and led 11-7 at the interval before pulling away after the break. Treesa and Gayatri will meet American pair Lauren Lam and Allison Lee in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.

Ayush Shetty stunned world no. 1 Shi Yuqi, while PV Sindhu and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand advanced with wins at the 2026 BWF World Championships

BWF World Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty upsets reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in opening match; PV Sindhu wins

Former world champion PV Sindhu and Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will spearhead India's medal hopes as the BWF World Championships return to the country after 17 years. The 2026 edition of badminton's biggest individual tournament gets underway at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, with India looking to extend its remarkable record of winning at least one medal at every World Championships since 2011.&nbsp;With the prestigious event returning to Indian shores for the first time since 2009, the home contingent will hope to make the most of the familiar conditions and passionate support. Alongside Sindhu and the Satwik-Chirag pair, men's singles stars Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty will also be expected to make a deep run. For Sindhu, the tournament presents another opportunity to add to an already extraordinary World Championships record. The 2019 champion has won five medals, one gold, two silver and two bronze, and is chasing a record sixth medal in New Delhi.&nbsp;The ninth-seeded Sindhu will begin her campaign against Ireland's Sofia Nobel in the women's singles round of 64 on Monday. She could face China's third seed Wang Zhi Yi in the pre-quarterfinals, while a potential quarterfinal clash against Indonesia's sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani could await her thereafter. Sindhu's last World Championships medal came in 2019, when she became the first Indian to win the women's singles title. The 31-year-old, however, heads into the home tournament with renewed confidence after winning the Japan Open Super 750 title in July.&nbsp;"This world championships is very special for me because it is happening in India. I haven't won a medal in the championships for seven years but my confidence has received a boost after the Japan Open win and I am hopeful of winning one more medal here," said Sindhu, who watched the 2009 edition of the World Championships from the stands in Hyderabad. While Sindhu will be hoping to reclaim the title, defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan will be aiming to create history by becoming the first women's singles player to win four World Championships gold medals. Yamaguchi and Spain's Carolina Marin are the only women's singles players to have won three World Championships titles. Their dominance has also contributed to China's long wait for a women's singles gold at the event, with its last title coming through Wang Yihan in 2011.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-hockey-world-cup-2026-indian-women-begin-campaign-with-2-2-draw-against-china-1786889562915">FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: Indian women begin campaign with 2-2 draw against China</a><h2>Ayush Shetty faces huge opening test</h2>One of the biggest talking points for Indian fans on the opening day will be the men's singles clash between Ayush Shetty and defending champion Shi Yu Qi. The 21-year-old Shetty, who won silver at the Asian Championships earlier this year, will make his World Championships debut on home soil against the world no. 1.&nbsp;Despite the daunting opponent, Shetty believes playing the biggest tournament of his career in India makes the occasion particularly special. "I would say it is the biggest tournament I have played so far. It is a really big tournament for everyone, even for the world's best players. I think it is a huge stage and it is happening in India," he said.&nbsp;Shetty has faced Shi Yu Qi three times previously and lost all three encounters. Asked whether facing the Chinese star in the opening round could be an advantage compared to meeting him later in the tournament, the youngster acknowledged the challenge ahead. "I think it is tough in whichever round you are playing Shi Yu Qi. It will be a first match of the tournament for me as well and I hope that it will be great match," said the 21-year-old, who currently has a 0-3 head-to-head record against the world number 1.<h2>Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag among India's other medal hopes</h2>Lakshya Sen will begin his campaign on Tuesday against Austria's Collins Filimon. The 25-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, has been handed a challenging draw that could see him meet second seed and former champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the pre-quarterfinals. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, meanwhile, have received a bye in the opening round. The fifth seeds and two-time World Championships bronze medallists will be among India's biggest medal contenders in the men's doubles draw.&nbsp;India will also be represented across the other doubles events. MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan will begin their men's doubles campaign against Ireland's Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez. Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi will take on Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez in another women's doubles first-round encounter.&nbsp;India's mixed doubles combination of Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh was promoted to the main draw and will face Turkey's Emre Sonmez and Yasemen Bektas. Japan's Riko Gunji and Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan were also promoted in the women's singles draw following the withdrawals of Singapore's Yeo Jia Min and Spain's Clara Azurmendi after the draw was made.&nbsp;With the World Championships back in India after 17 years, the home contingent will be looking to turn the occasion into another landmark chapter in the country's badminton story. For Sindhu, it is a chance to chase another piece of history; for Satwik-Chirag, an opportunity to finally push for the title; and for young stars such as Ayush Shetty, a chance to announce themselves on the biggest stage of all.<h2>Indian matches on Monday</h2>Men's singles: Ayush Shetty vs 1-Shi Yuqi (China) Women's singles: 9-PV Sindhu vs Sofia Nobel (Ireland) Men's doubles: MR Arjun/Hariharan Amsakarunan vs Scott Guildea/Paul Reynolds (Ireland) Women's doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand vs Paula Lopez/Lucia Rodriguez (Spain) Women's doubles: Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi vs Nikol Carulla/Carmen Maria Jimenez (Spain)

BWF World Championships 2026 begin in New Delhi as PV Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty lead India's medal hopes at home

Former world champion PV Sindhu and Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will spearhead India's medal hopes as the BWF World Championships return to the country after 17 years. The 2026 edition of badminton's biggest individual tournament gets underway at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, with India looking to extend its remarkable record of winning at least one medal at every World Championships since 2011. With the prestigious event returning to Indian shores for the first time since 2009, the home contingent will hope to make the most of the familiar conditions and passionate support. Alongside Sindhu and the Satwik-Chirag pair, men's singles stars Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty will also be expected to make a deep run. For Sindhu, the tournament presents another opportunity to add to an already extraordinary World Championships record. The 2019 champion has won five medals, one gold, two silver and two bronze, and is chasing a record sixth medal in New Delhi. The ninth-seeded Sindhu will begin her campaign against Ireland's Sofia Nobel in the women's singles round of 64 on Monday. She could face China's third seed Wang Zhi Yi in the pre-quarterfinals, while a potential quarterfinal clash against Indonesia's sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani could await her thereafter. Sindhu's last World Championships medal came in 2019, when she became the first Indian to win the women's singles title. The 31-year-old, however, heads into the home tournament with renewed confidence after winning the Japan Open Super 750 title in July. "This world championships is very special for me because it is happening in India. I haven't won a medal in the championships for seven years but my confidence has received a boost after the Japan Open win and I am hopeful of winning one more medal here," said Sindhu, who watched the 2009 edition of the World Championships from the stands in Hyderabad. While Sindhu will be hoping to reclaim the title, defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan will be aiming to create history by becoming the first women's singles player to win four World Championships gold medals. Yamaguchi and Spain's Carolina Marin are the only women's singles players to have won three World Championships titles. Their dominance has also contributed to China's long wait for a women's singles gold at the event, with its last title coming through Wang Yihan in 2011. Also Read: FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: Indian women begin campaign with 2-2 draw against China Ayush Shetty faces huge opening test One of the biggest talking points for Indian fans on the opening day will be the men's singles clash between Ayush Shetty and defending champion Shi Yu Qi. The 21-year-old Shetty, who won silver at the Asian Championships earlier this year, will make his World Championships debut on home soil against the world no. 1. Despite the daunting opponent, Shetty believes playing the biggest tournament of his career in India makes the occasion particularly special. "I would say it is the biggest tournament I have played so far. It is a really big tournament for everyone, even for the world's best players. I think it is a huge stage and it is happening in India," he said. Shetty has faced Shi Yu Qi three times previously and lost all three encounters. Asked whether facing the Chinese star in the opening round could be an advantage compared to meeting him later in the tournament, the youngster acknowledged the challenge ahead. "I think it is tough in whichever round you are playing Shi Yu Qi. It will be a first match of the tournament for me as well and I hope that it will be great match," said the 21-year-old, who currently has a 0-3 head-to-head record against the world number 1. Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag among India's other medal hopes Lakshya Sen will begin his campaign on Tuesday against Austria's Collins Filimon. The 25-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, has been handed a challenging draw that could see him meet second seed and former champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the pre-quarterfinals. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, meanwhile, have received a bye in the opening round. The fifth seeds and two-time World Championships bronze medallists will be among India's biggest medal contenders in the men's doubles draw. India will also be represented across the other doubles events. MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan will begin their men's doubles campaign against Ireland's Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez. Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi will take on Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez in another women's doubles first-round encounter. India's mixed doubles combination of Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh was promoted to the main draw and will face Turkey's Emre Sonmez and Yasemen Bektas. Japan's Riko Gunji and Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan were also promoted in the women's singles draw following the withdrawals of Singapore's Yeo Jia Min and Spain's Clara Azurmendi after the draw was made. With the World Championships back in India after 17 years, the home contingent will be looking to turn the occasion into another landmark chapter in the country's badminton story. For Sindhu, it is a chance to chase another piece of history; for Satwik-Chirag, an opportunity to finally push for the title; and for young stars such as Ayush Shetty, a chance to announce themselves on the biggest stage of all. Indian matches on Monday Men's singles: Ayush Shetty vs 1-Shi Yuqi (China) Women's singles: 9-PV Sindhu vs Sofia Nobel (Ireland) Men's doubles: MR Arjun/Hariharan Amsakarunan vs Scott Guildea/Paul Reynolds (Ireland) Women's doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand vs Paula Lopez/Lucia Rodriguez (Spain) Women's doubles: Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi vs Nikol Carulla/Carmen Maria Jimenez (Spain)

PV Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty lead India's medal hopes as the BWF World Championships return to India after 17 years

BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag lead India's home challenge

The BWF World Championships 2026 are set to bring the world's best badminton players to New Delhi as India prepares to host the prestigious tournament for the second time. The 30th edition of the Badminton World Championships will be held from August 17 to 23, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi. The week-long tournament will feature five events, men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles, with the competition progressing from the opening rounds to the finals over seven days.&nbsp;According to the latest draft schedule approved by the referee, the tournament will begin with staggered opening rounds on August 17 and 18. From August 19, the competition will move into the knockout stages, with the quarter-finals, semifinals and finals scheduled from August 21 onwards.<h2>BWF World Championships 2026: Key details</h2><ul><li>Tournament: BWF World Championships 2026</li><li>Dates: August 17 to August 23, 2026</li><li>Venue: Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi</li><li>Events: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles</li><li>Host country: India</li></ul>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-fear-no-revenge-ayush-shetty-s-mindset-ahead-of-bwf-world-championships-blockbuster-match-1786569721414">'No fear, no revenge': Ayush Shetty’s mindset ahead Of BWF World Championships blockbuster match</a><h2>BWF World Championships 2026 full schedule</h2><h3>August 17: Opening round</h3>The tournament will begin with the Round of 64 in men's singles and women's singles, with the top half of the draws scheduled to compete. The men's doubles and women's doubles events will also get underway, with their Round of 48 matches taking place. The mixed doubles competition will similarly begin with Round of 48 action.<h3>August 18: Opening rounds continue</h3>The second day will feature the remaining half of the men's singles and women's singles Round of 64. The men's doubles and women's doubles competitions will continue, with the bottom half of their opening-round matches and the top half of the Round of 32 scheduled. Mixed doubles Round of 48 matches will also continue.<h3>August 19: Round of 32</h3>The tournament will move into the Round of 32 across all five disciplines. Men's singles, women's singles and men's doubles will feature Round of 32 matches, while women's doubles and mixed doubles will also progress through their respective Round of 32 fixtures.<h3>August 20: Round of 16</h3>The field will be reduced further on August 20, with Round of 16 matches scheduled in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. This will be the final round before the tournament enters the quarter-final stage.<h3>August 21: Quarterfinals</h3>The quarter-final stage will begin with all five disciplines in action. Quarterfinals will be contested in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles as players and pairs battle for places in the semi-finals.<h3>August 22: Semifinals</h3>The semi-finals will take place across all five events. Men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles will all feature semi-final matches on August 22.<h3>August 23: Finals</h3>The BWF World Championships 2026 will conclude on August 23, with the finals scheduled across all five disciplines.Champions will be crowned in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles on the final day.<h2>BWF World Championships 2026: Indian players</h2>India will look to make the most of home advantage, with some of the country's leading shuttlers expected to feature across all five disciplines.<h3>Men's singles</h3><ul><li>Lakshya Sen</li><li>Ayush Shetty</li></ul><h3>Women's singles</h3><ul><li>PV Sindhu</li><li>Unnati Hooda</li></ul><h3>Men's doubles</h3><ul><li>Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty</li><li>Hariharan Amsakarunan / M.R. Arjun</li></ul><h3>Women's doubles</h3><ul><li>Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand Pullela</li><li>Kavipriya Selvam / Simran Singhi</li></ul><h3>Mixed doubles</h3><ul><li>Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto</li><li>Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Shivani Gadde</li></ul>The return of the World Championships to India is expected to generate major interest among badminton fans. With the tournament taking place in New Delhi, India's leading players will have the opportunity to compete at one of badminton's biggest global events in front of a home crowd.&nbsp;PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will be among the key names to watch in the singles events, while men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will carry significant expectations. India will also hope its emerging players and doubles combinations can make a strong impact as the tournament progresses.

BWF World Championships 2026 schedule, dates, venue and Indian players. Check the full August 17-23 timetable for the New Delhi badminton event

The BWF World Championships 2026 are set to bring the world's best badminton players to New Delhi as India prepares to host the prestigious tournament for the second time. The 30th edition of the Badminton World Championships will be held from August 17 to 23, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi. The week-long tournament will feature five events, men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles, with the competition progressing from the opening rounds to the finals over seven days. According to the latest draft schedule approved by the referee, the tournament will begin with staggered opening rounds on August 17 and 18. From August 19, the competition will move into the knockout stages, with the quarter-finals, semifinals and finals scheduled from August 21 onwards. BWF World Championships 2026: Key details Tournament: BWF World Championships 2026 Dates: August 17 to August 23, 2026 Venue: Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi Events: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles Host country: India Also Read: 'No fear, no revenge': Ayush Shetty’s mindset ahead Of BWF World Championships blockbuster match BWF World Championships 2026 full schedule August 17: Opening round The tournament will begin with the Round of 64 in men's singles and women's singles, with the top half of the draws scheduled to compete. The men's doubles and women's doubles events will also get underway, with their Round of 48 matches taking place. The mixed doubles competition will similarly begin with Round of 48 action. August 18: Opening rounds continue The second day will feature the remaining half of the men's singles and women's singles Round of 64. The men's doubles and women's doubles competitions will continue, with the bottom half of their opening-round matches and the top half of the Round of 32 scheduled. Mixed doubles Round of 48 matches will also continue. August 19: Round of 32 The tournament will move into the Round of 32 across all five disciplines. Men's singles, women's singles and men's doubles will feature Round of 32 matches, while women's doubles and mixed doubles will also progress through their respective Round of 32 fixtures. August 20: Round of 16 The field will be reduced further on August 20, with Round of 16 matches scheduled in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. This will be the final round before the tournament enters the quarter-final stage. August 21: Quarterfinals The quarter-final stage will begin with all five disciplines in action. Quarterfinals will be contested in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles as players and pairs battle for places in the semi-finals. August 22: Semifinals The semi-finals will take place across all five events. Men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles will all feature semi-final matches on August 22. August 23: Finals The BWF World Championships 2026 will conclude on August 23, with the finals scheduled across all five disciplines. Champions will be crowned in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles on the final day. BWF World Championships 2026: Indian players India will look to make the most of home advantage, with some of the country's leading shuttlers expected to feature across all five disciplines. Men's singles Lakshya Sen Ayush Shetty Women's singles PV Sindhu Unnati Hooda Men's doubles Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty Hariharan Amsakarunan / M.R. Arjun Women's doubles Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand Pullela Kavipriya Selvam / Simran Singhi Mixed doubles Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Shivani Gadde The return of the World Championships to India is expected to generate major interest among badminton fans. With the tournament taking place in New Delhi, India's leading players will have the opportunity to compete at one of badminton's biggest global events in front of a home crowd. PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will be among the key names to watch in the singles events, while men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will carry significant expectations. India will also hope its emerging players and doubles combinations can make a strong impact as the tournament progresses.

BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi run August 17-23, featuring five events, India's top shuttlers and a week of world-class badminton

BWF World Championships 2026: Full schedule, India’s top players, dates and venue

Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has backed the deployment of mimicry artists at the upcoming BWF World Championships 2026 to keep the monkeys away. The tournament, set to be played from August 17-23 at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, has taken the unique measure of using artists to mimic the langur voices to keep the monkeys away from fans and the venue. The move has been laughed out at but Sindhu has come in support of it.<h2>What Sindhu said about mimicry artists to keep monkeys away at BWF World Championships?</h2>Sindhu, in reply to a social media posts, agreed '100%' with the unique method used by the tournament organizers to stop the money menace. The move came after the monkeys disrupted India Open in January earlier this year at the same venue.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">100%. I genuinely don’t understand the outrage. We all love Wimbledon, and they’ve had Rufus the hawk keeping pigeons away for years. Every major sporting event has its own local challenges. This is just one additional measure on top of the countless measures already being… <a href="https://t.co/M64eyyPXBx">https://t.co/M64eyyPXBx</a>&mdash; PV Sindhu (@Pvsindhu1) <a href="https://x.com/Pvsindhu1/status/2087404848954421358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I genuinely don’t understand the outrage. We all love Wimbledon, and they’ve had Rufus the hawk keeping pigeons away for years. Every major sporting event has its own local challenges. This is just one additional measure on top of the countless measures already being taken. Somehow that becomes the talking point. Can’t wait for the world to experience Indian hospitality. I’m 100% sure we’re going to deliver a world-class World Championships," she wrote in the post.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jets-cb-qwan-tez-stiggers-carted-off-field-after-losing-consciousness-coach-shares-health-update-1786505903243">Jets CB Qwan’tez Stiggers carted off field after losing consciousness</a>India had done the same during 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when red langurs where deployed to keep the monkeys away. The use of acutal animals, however, was banned in 2012 under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.<h2>Indian hopes at BWF World Championships</h2>Hosting the tournament after 17 years, India would be hoping to win big and take full advantage of home court at the upcoming BWF World Championships. PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty and Lakshya Sen lead the Indian contingent with Ayush Shetty set to face top seed Shi Yu Qi from China in the men's singles first round.

PV Sindhu supported using mimicry artists to imitate langur voices and deter monkeys at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, comparing it to Wimbledon’s use of a hawk for pigeon control.

Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has backed the deployment of mimicry artists at the upcoming BWF World Championships 2026 to keep the monkeys away. The tournament, set to be played from August 17-23 at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, has taken the unique measure of using artists to mimic the langur voices to keep the monkeys away from fans and the venue. The move has been laughed out at but Sindhu has come in support of it. What Sindhu said about mimicry artists to keep monkeys away at BWF World Championships? Sindhu, in reply to a social media posts, agreed '100%' with the unique method used by the tournament organizers to stop the money menace. The move came after the monkeys disrupted India Open in January earlier this year at the same venue.

PV Sindhu supported using mimicry artists to imitate langur voices and deter monkeys at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, comparing it to Wimbledon’s use of a hawk for pigeon control.

BWF World Championships: PV Sindhu cites Wimbledon’s Hawk to defend monkey-control plan

India is set to host the BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium in New Delhi from August 17-23, 2026 and the organizers have deployed unique solutions to keep the monkeys away. Specialist artists have been hired to mimic langurs to keep the monkeys and other animals away from the fans in the stand. This comes after monkeys disrupted the Indian Open in January earlier this year. Star Indian shutter PV Sindhu, meanwhile, has appreciated the unique solution to ensure safe games.<h2>PV Sindhu lauds unqiue efforts to keep monkeys away at BWF World Championships</h2>“You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort. So many people are working behind the scenes to make sure India is ready to welcome the world. Our solutions may be uniquely Indian, but so are our warmth, our spirit and our hospitality. Can’t wait for the badminton world to experience it all in Delhi. See you soon!,” She posted on X with a video of an artist mimicking the voice of langurs to keep the rhesus macaques away.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort 😂❤️🇮🇳 So many people are working behind the scenes to make sure India is ready to welcome the world. Our solutions may be uniquely Indian, but so are our warmth, our spirit and our hospitality. Can’t wait for the… <a href="https://t.co/ORDFuAkITL">https://t.co/ORDFuAkITL</a>&mdash; PV Sindhu (@Pvsindhu1) <a href="https://x.com/Pvsindhu1/status/2086821204145668537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

India had done the same during 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when red langurs where deployed to keep the monkeys away. The use of acutal animals, however, was banned in 2012 under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-ipl-trade-talks-mumbai-indians-kkr-csk-1786364042741">Hardik Pandya IPL Trade Deal: KKR keen, CSK await new coach as MI hold firm</a><h2>India hopes big at BWF World Championships</h2>Hosting the tournament after 17 years, India would be hoping to win big and take full advantage of home court at the upcoming BWF World Championships. PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty and Lakshya Sen lead the Indian contingent with Ayush Shetty set to face top seed Shi Yu Qi from China in the men's singles first round.Unnati Hooda is the other player in the women's singles along with PV Sindhu, who is seeded ninth and faces Sophia Noble in the first round.Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand and Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi play in women's doubles, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (bye in first round) and Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde in mixed doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan/MR Arjun in men's doubles apart from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty who also got a bye in the first round.

India had done the same during 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when red langurs where deployed to keep the monkeys away. The use of acutal animals, however, was banned in 2012 under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

India is set to host the BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium in New Delhi from August 17-23, 2026 and the organizers have deployed unique solutions to keep the monkeys away. Specialist artists have been hired to mimic langurs to keep the monkeys and other animals away from the fans in the stand. This comes after monkeys disrupted the Indian Open in January earlier this year. Star Indian shutter PV Sindhu, meanwhile, has appreciated the unique solution to ensure safe games. PV Sindhu lauds unqiue efforts to keep monkeys away at BWF World Championships “You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort. So many people are working behind the scenes to make sure India is ready to welcome the world. Our solutions may be uniquely Indian, but so are our warmth, our spirit and our hospitality. Can’t wait for the badminton world to experience it all in Delhi. See you soon!,” She posted on X with a video of an artist mimicking the voice of langurs to keep the rhesus macaques away.

India had done the same during 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when red langurs where deployed to keep the monkeys away. The use of acutal animals, however, was banned in 2012 under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

'Uniquely Indian': PV Sindhu praises langur mimicry atrists depolyed to keep monkeys away at BWF World Championships

Olympic medallist and Indian badminton star PV Sindhu congratulated 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma after the teenager clinched her maiden BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open Super 300 on Sunday (Aug 2). Tanvi defeated Vietnam’s sixth-seeded Nguyen Thuy Linh 21-16, 21-16 in the women’s singles final to claim the biggest title of her young career.&nbsp;Sindhu praised Tanvi’s talent, attacking style and confidence against top players, while also backing her for a bright future.&nbsp;“Couldn’t be prouder of this girl. I’ve been saying for years that Tanvi has all the ingredients to become a very special player. The talent, the stroke-making, the courage to take on the best, it’s all there,” Sindhu wrote on X.&nbsp;The former world champion also said Tanvi has become more consistent and experienced with time and that it has been great to see her progress.&nbsp;“The only thing she needed was a little more stability and experience, and it’s been so lovely to watch that come together. This is just the beginning, Tanvi. Keep working, keep believing, and stay hungry,” she added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fleming-s-appointment-was-big-reason-joe-root-on-england-test-captaincy-return-1785647586839">'Fleming's appointment was...': Joe Root on England Test captaincy return</a>&nbsp;Sindhu also described Tanvi’s rise as a positive sign for Indian badminton, saying, “Indian badminton has a very bright future ahead of it with players like you. So proud of you.”&nbsp;The Badminton Association of India (BAI) Media also celebrated Tanvi’s historic achievement in a post on X and wrote that, “17 YEARS OLD. RECORD-BREAKER. CHAMPION. Tanvi Sharma wins the Taipei Open 2026 to become the youngest champion in tournament history and only the 4th Indian Women’s Singles shuttler to lift a Super 300+ trophy.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2026-gulveer-singh-scripts-history-with-double-medal-haul-in-track-events-1785643306047">CWG 2026: Gulveer Singh scripts history with double medal haul in track events</a>&nbsp;At 17 years and 222 days, Tanvi also became the youngest finalist in the history of the Taipei Open, surpassing Korean doubles great Lee Yong Dae, who was 17 years and 287 days old when he reached the men's doubles final in 2006.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu congratulated 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma after she became the youngest-ever Taipei Open champion by winning the BWF Super 300 title, ending India's 17-year wait for the women's singles crown and achieving another milestone for Indian badminton.

Olympic medallist and Indian badminton star PV Sindhu congratulated 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma after the teenager clinched her maiden BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open Super 300 on Sunday (Aug 2). Tanvi defeated Vietnam’s sixth-seeded Nguyen Thuy Linh 21-16, 21-16 in the women’s singles final to claim the biggest title of her young career. Sindhu praised Tanvi’s talent, attacking style and confidence against top players, while also backing her for a bright future. “Couldn’t be prouder of this girl. I’ve been saying for years that Tanvi has all the ingredients to become a very special player. The talent, the stroke-making, the courage to take on the best, it’s all there,” Sindhu wrote on X. The former world champion also said Tanvi has become more consistent and experienced with time and that it has been great to see her progress. “The only thing she needed was a little more stability and experience, and it’s been so lovely to watch that come together. This is just the beginning, Tanvi. Keep working, keep believing, and stay hungry,” she added. Also Read - 'Fleming's appointment was...': Joe Root on England Test captaincy return Sindhu also described Tanvi’s rise as a positive sign for Indian badminton, saying, “Indian badminton has a very bright future ahead of it with players like you. So proud of you.” The Badminton Association of India (BAI) Media also celebrated Tanvi’s historic achievement in a post on X and wrote that, “17 YEARS OLD. RECORD-BREAKER. CHAMPION. Tanvi Sharma wins the Taipei Open 2026 to become the youngest champion in tournament history and only the 4th Indian Women’s Singles shuttler to lift a Super 300+ trophy.” Also Read - CWG 2026: Gulveer Singh scripts history with double medal haul in track events At 17 years and 222 days, Tanvi also became the youngest finalist in the history of the Taipei Open, surpassing Korean doubles great Lee Yong Dae, who was 17 years and 287 days old when he reached the men's doubles final in 2006. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu congratulated 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma after she became the youngest-ever Taipei Open champion by winning the BWF Super 300 title, ending India's 17-year wait for the women's singles crown and achieving another milestone for Indian badminton.

'Couldn't be prouder of this girl': PV Sindhu praises Tanvi Sharma after Taipei Open 2026 triumph

PV Sindhu criticised the scheduling at the China Open after her second-round defeat to home favourite and world no. 4 Chen Yufei on Thursday, raising concerns over the difference in recovery time between players. The Indian badminton star revealed that she had only 16 hours between her first-round match and her clash against Chen, while her opponent had more than a full day to recover before the encounter.&nbsp;Taking to X after the loss, the double Olympic medallist wrote: “About 16 hours for me between matches. 24+ hours for my dear friend Chen tomorrow after having a full day off before facing me today.” She followed it up with another post, adding: “Lovely to see recovery being given the importance it deserves. Funny how schedules have a way of taking care of recovery. I only wish they took care of everyone the same way.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/failure-is-okay-cheating-is-not-sachin-tendulkar-calls-for-merit-based-culture-amid-student-protests-1784821525857">'Failure is okay, cheating is not': Sachin Tendulkar calls for merit-based culture amid student protests</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">About 16 hours for me between matches. 24+ hours for my dear friend Chen tomorrow after having a full day off before facing me today. Lovely to see recovery being given the importance it deserves. Funny how schedules have a way of taking care of recovery. I only wish they took… <a href="https://t.co/rngGX7zfCA">pic.twitter.com/rngGX7zfCA</a>&mdash; PV Sindhu (@Pvsindhu1) <a href="https://x.com/Pvsindhu1/status/2080289469085962335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sindhu's campaign ended with a hard-fought 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 defeat in a match that lasted nearly 90 minutes. The 30-year-old from Hyderabad entered the China Open after winning the Japan Open, ending a prolonged title drought. The opening game saw Chen take an early 13-7 lead before Sindhu staged an impressive comeback. After drawing level at 16-16, the Indian reeled off five consecutive points to claim the game 21-16.&nbsp;Chen bounced back in the second game despite Sindhu appearing to be on the verge of victory. Holding a 20-16 lead with four match points, Sindhu was unable to close out the contest as the Chinese star won six straight points to take the game 22-20 and force a decider. The final game remained evenly balanced with the scores tied at 17-17. Chen, however, held her nerve in the closing stages, winning four of the last five points to complete the comeback and secure the victory in front of the home crowd.&nbsp;The scheduling issue quickly became a major talking point after the match. Sindhu had less than a day to recover following her opening-round win before taking on Chen in a physically demanding contest. In contrast, Chen had more than 24 hours between her matches after receiving a full day's break before facing Sindhu. She will also enjoy another full day of recovery before meeting Thailand's seventh seed Ratchanok Intanon in the quarterfinals.

PV Sindhu slammed the China Open scheduling after her second-round loss to Chen Yufei, questioning the unequal recovery time between players ahead of their clash

PV Sindhu criticised the scheduling at the China Open after her second-round defeat to home favourite and world no. 4 Chen Yufei on Thursday, raising concerns over the difference in recovery time between players. The Indian badminton star revealed that she had only 16 hours between her first-round match and her clash against Chen, while her opponent had more than a full day to recover before the encounter. Taking to X after the loss, the double Olympic medallist wrote: “About 16 hours for me between matches. 24+ hours for my dear friend Chen tomorrow after having a full day off before facing me today.” She followed it up with another post, adding: “Lovely to see recovery being given the importance it deserves. Funny how schedules have a way of taking care of recovery. I only wish they took care of everyone the same way.” Also Read: 'Failure is okay, cheating is not': Sachin Tendulkar calls for merit-based culture amid student protests

Indian Ace shuttler PV Sindhu questioned China Open scheduling after getting just 16 hours to recover before her second-round loss to Chen Yufei

PV Sindhu slams China Open scheduling after second-round exit to China's Chen Yufei

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu fought hard to beat fellow Indian teenager Unnati Hooda and move into the second round of the China Open, while Ayush Shetty stunned world No. 11 Alwi Farhan in a major first-round upset on Wednesday. Fresh from ending her two-year title drought by winning the Japan Open last week, Sindhu secured a 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 victory in a 56-minute women’s singles match.&nbsp;The opening game was closely contested, with both players level at 7-7. Sindhu then took control by winning five straight points to open a 12-8 lead and comfortably claimed the game 21-14.&nbsp;Unnati bounced back strongly in the second game. After the score was tied at 2-2, she moved ahead 6-3 and then won six consecutive points to stretch her lead to 12-4. Sindhu struggled to regain momentum as Unnati dominated the game and won it 21-9 to force a deciding game.&nbsp;Sindhu responded in style in the final game. After a tight start, she built a 10-5 lead, extended it to 15-8 and finished the match with a convincing 21-10 win to book her place in the round of 16 of the BWF Super 1000 event.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/glasgow-2026-commonwealth-games-opening-ceremony-date-time-performers-all-you-need-to-know-1784726628268">Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony: Date, time, performers &amp; all you need to know</a>&nbsp;Sindhu will now take on fourth seed and home favourite Chen Yufei, whom she defeated in straight games in the Japan Open semifinals last week. Chen has a slight 8-7 advantage in their head-to-head record.&nbsp;In the men’s singles, Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest surprises of the opening round by defeating Indonesia’s world No. 11 and former world junior champion Alwi Farhan 17-21, 21-5, 21-17 in a thrilling 57-minute contest.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-odi-rankings-joe-root-jumps-big-india-trio-close-in-on-no-1-spot-1784722222951">ICC ODI Rankings: Joe Root jumps big, India trio close in on No. 1 spot</a>&nbsp;After dropping the opening game, Ayush bounced back with a dominant display in the second round before holding his nerve to win the decider 21-17 and seal a memorable victory.&nbsp;Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun were beaten 16-21, 7-21 by China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in less than 30 minutes.&nbsp;In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani lost 9-21, 16-21 to top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also crashed out after suffering an 18-21, 18-21 defeat against fifth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui of China.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu advanced to the next round of the China Open after overcoming a tough challenge from Unnati Hooda, while Ayush Shetty pulled off a major upset by defeating world No. 11 Alwi Farhan.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu fought hard to beat fellow Indian teenager Unnati Hooda and move into the second round of the China Open, while Ayush Shetty stunned world No. 11 Alwi Farhan in a major first-round upset on Wednesday. Fresh from ending her two-year title drought by winning the Japan Open last week, Sindhu secured a 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 victory in a 56-minute women’s singles match. The opening game was closely contested, with both players level at 7-7. Sindhu then took control by winning five straight points to open a 12-8 lead and comfortably claimed the game 21-14. Unnati bounced back strongly in the second game. After the score was tied at 2-2, she moved ahead 6-3 and then won six consecutive points to stretch her lead to 12-4. Sindhu struggled to regain momentum as Unnati dominated the game and won it 21-9 to force a deciding game. Sindhu responded in style in the final game. After a tight start, she built a 10-5 lead, extended it to 15-8 and finished the match with a convincing 21-10 win to book her place in the round of 16 of the BWF Super 1000 event. Also Read - Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony: Date, time, performers & all you need to know Sindhu will now take on fourth seed and home favourite Chen Yufei, whom she defeated in straight games in the Japan Open semifinals last week. Chen has a slight 8-7 advantage in their head-to-head record. In the men’s singles, Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest surprises of the opening round by defeating Indonesia’s world No. 11 and former world junior champion Alwi Farhan 17-21, 21-5, 21-17 in a thrilling 57-minute contest. Also Read - ICC ODI Rankings: Joe Root jumps big, India trio close in on No. 1 spot After dropping the opening game, Ayush bounced back with a dominant display in the second round before holding his nerve to win the decider 21-17 and seal a memorable victory. Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun were beaten 16-21, 7-21 by China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in less than 30 minutes. In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani lost 9-21, 16-21 to top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China. Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also crashed out after suffering an 18-21, 18-21 defeat against fifth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui of China. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu advanced to the next round of the China Open after overcoming a tough challenge from Unnati Hooda, while Ayush Shetty pulled off a major upset by defeating world No. 11 Alwi Farhan.

China Open: PV Sindhu survives Unnati Hooda challenge, Ayush Shetty upsets World No. 11

After a long spell of injuries and setbacks, PV Sindhu finally returned to the top with a memorable victory on Sunday (Jul 19), as the Indian badminton star defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 to win her maiden Japan Open Super 750 title. The triumph ended her wait of almost two years for a major BWF World Tour title and comes at the perfect time, with the World Championships set to be held in India in the coming weeks.&nbsp;Speaking exclusively to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Sindhu said the title has given her a huge confidence boost ahead of the World Championships.&nbsp;Reflecting on what the victory means, she said, “Well, definitely I’m firstly very happy and definitely this will give me a lot of confidence. You know, after a long time I had won a title and definitely before the Worlds, I think it will definitely give me a lot of confidence, a lot of boost.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-i-never-stop-practising-sachin-basheer-on-his-rise-from-caddie-to-champion-1784474343009">Exclusive | 'I never stop practising...': Sachin Baisoya on his rise from caddie to champion</a> &nbsp;During the final match, Sindhu stayed in control for most of the time, using powerful smashes and sharp net play to keep Yamaguchi under pressure. After an even opening game, she recovered from a two-point deficit at the interval to take the lead and sealed it 21-17 with a strong finish.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/success-is-about-the-work-not-result-yogya-bhalla-opens-up-on-handling-expectations-at-15-1783615292745">'Success is about the work, not result': Yogya Bhalla opens up on handling expectations at 16</a>&nbsp;The Indian carried that momentum into the second game, racing to an 8-3 lead and maintaining her advantage despite Yamaguchi’s late fightback. Sindhu held her nerve in the closing stages and wrapped up the match 21-17, securing a historic Japan Open title.&nbsp;

In an exclusive conversation with WION's Aditya Bhatia, PV Sindhu reflected on her historic Japan Open triumph and spoke about how the victory has boosted her confidence ahead of the upcoming World Championships.

After a long spell of injuries and setbacks, PV Sindhu finally returned to the top with a memorable victory on Sunday (Jul 19), as the Indian badminton star defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 to win her maiden Japan Open Super 750 title. The triumph ended her wait of almost two years for a major BWF World Tour title and comes at the perfect time, with the World Championships set to be held in India in the coming weeks. Speaking exclusively to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Sindhu said the title has given her a huge confidence boost ahead of the World Championships. Reflecting on what the victory means, she said, “Well, definitely I’m firstly very happy and definitely this will give me a lot of confidence. You know, after a long time I had won a title and definitely before the Worlds, I think it will definitely give me a lot of confidence, a lot of boost.” Also Read - Exclusive | 'I never stop practising...': Sachin Baisoya on his rise from caddie to champion During the final match, Sindhu stayed in control for most of the time, using powerful smashes and sharp net play to keep Yamaguchi under pressure. After an even opening game, she recovered from a two-point deficit at the interval to take the lead and sealed it 21-17 with a strong finish. Also Read - 'Success is about the work, not result': Yogya Bhalla opens up on handling expectations at 16 The Indian carried that momentum into the second game, racing to an 8-3 lead and maintaining her advantage despite Yamaguchi’s late fightback. Sindhu held her nerve in the closing stages and wrapped up the match 21-17, securing a historic Japan Open title.

In an exclusive conversation with WION's Aditya Bhatia, PV Sindhu reflected on her historic Japan Open triumph and spoke about how the victory has boosted her confidence ahead of the upcoming World Championships.

Exclusive | 'It will definitely give me a boost': PV Sindhu on how Japan Open triumph fuels World Championships hopes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Jul 19) congratulated two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu after she won the Japan Open 2026, calling it a historic moment for Indian badminton. He praised her determination and outstanding display throughout the tournament, highlighting that she is the first Indian to win the prestigious title. PM Modi said Sindhu’s success would motivate young athletes across the country to take up sports and achieve greatness.&nbsp;Sindhu produced one of her finest performances in recent years to win her maiden Japan Open title. She defeated home favourite and world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the women’s singles final of the BWF Super 750 tournament on Sunday.&nbsp;“A historic feat for Indian badminton! Congratulations to PV Sindhu for emerging victorious in the Japan Open 2026. Her determination and exceptional skills were on full display throughout the tournament. The fact that she is the first Indian to win this title makes this achievement even more special. It will inspire countless young athletes across the country to play and shine,” PM Modi wrote in an X post.&nbsp;Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also congratulated Sindhu after her straight-games victory over Akane Yamaguchi to lift the Japan Open title. He called it a landmark achievement for Indian badminton and wished her success at the Olympics.&nbsp;“Heartfelt congratulations to @Pvsindhu1 for a phenomenal straight-games victory (21-17, 21-17) against Yamaguchi to secure the Japan Open. A historic milestone for Indian badminton! All the best for Olympics Amma!” Naidu wrote in an X post.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-bukayo-saka-joins-elite-england-list-with-wc-hat-trick-1784457108776">FIFA 2026: Bukayo Saka joins elite England list with WC hat-trick</a>&nbsp;Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also praised Sindhu for creating history by becoming the first Indian to win the Japan Open. He said her achievement reflected her hard work and world-class talent.&nbsp;“A historic feat for Indian badminton! Congratulations to PV Sindhu for emerging victorious in the Japan Open 2026. Her determination and exceptional skills were on full display throughout the tournament. The fact that she is the first Indian to win this title makes this achievement even more special. It will inspire countless young athletes across the country to play and shine,” Fadnavis also wrote in an X post.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pv-sindhu-scripts-history-becomes-first-indian-to-win-bwf-japan-open-1784455081664">PV Sindhu scripts history, becomes first Indian to win BWF Japan Open</a>&nbsp;The win gave Sindhu her first BWF Super 750 title and ended a wait of more than two years for an international title. She also became the first Indian shuttler to win the prestigious Japan Open, marking her biggest achievement since winning the BWF World Championships in 2019.&nbsp;With her victory in Tokyo, Sindhu not only secured her maiden Japan Open crown but also boosted her confidence ahead of the major international tournaments later this season.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated PV Sindhu after she became the first Indian to win the Japan Open, defeating world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in the BWF Super 750 women's singles final.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Jul 19) congratulated two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu after she won the Japan Open 2026, calling it a historic moment for Indian badminton. He praised her determination and outstanding display throughout the tournament, highlighting that she is the first Indian to win the prestigious title. PM Modi said Sindhu’s success would motivate young athletes across the country to take up sports and achieve greatness. Sindhu produced one of her finest performances in recent years to win her maiden Japan Open title. She defeated home favourite and world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the women’s singles final of the BWF Super 750 tournament on Sunday. “A historic feat for Indian badminton! Congratulations to PV Sindhu for emerging victorious in the Japan Open 2026. Her determination and exceptional skills were on full display throughout the tournament. The fact that she is the first Indian to win this title makes this achievement even more special. It will inspire countless young athletes across the country to play and shine,” PM Modi wrote in an X post. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also congratulated Sindhu after her straight-games victory over Akane Yamaguchi to lift the Japan Open title. He called it a landmark achievement for Indian badminton and wished her success at the Olympics. “Heartfelt congratulations to @Pvsindhu1 for a phenomenal straight-games victory (21-17, 21-17) against Yamaguchi to secure the Japan Open. A historic milestone for Indian badminton! All the best for Olympics Amma!” Naidu wrote in an X post. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Bukayo Saka joins elite England list with WC hat-trick Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also praised Sindhu for creating history by becoming the first Indian to win the Japan Open. He said her achievement reflected her hard work and world-class talent. “A historic feat for Indian badminton! Congratulations to PV Sindhu for emerging victorious in the Japan Open 2026. Her determination and exceptional skills were on full display throughout the tournament. The fact that she is the first Indian to win this title makes this achievement even more special. It will inspire countless young athletes across the country to play and shine,” Fadnavis also wrote in an X post. Also Read - PV Sindhu scripts history, becomes first Indian to win BWF Japan Open The win gave Sindhu her first BWF Super 750 title and ended a wait of more than two years for an international title. She also became the first Indian shuttler to win the prestigious Japan Open, marking her biggest achievement since winning the BWF World Championships in 2019. With her victory in Tokyo, Sindhu not only secured her maiden Japan Open crown but also boosted her confidence ahead of the major international tournaments later this season. With inputs from agencies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated PV Sindhu after she became the first Indian to win the Japan Open, defeating world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in the BWF Super 750 women's singles final.

'Historic feat for Indian badminton': PM Modi congratulates PV Sindhu on Japan Open victory

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu delivered a throwback performance, defeating Akane Yamaguchi in straight games and capturing her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open on Sunday. She became the first Indian to win the tournament, sealing a 21-17, 21-17 victory over the three-time world champion and ending a title drought of more than two years. It also marked her biggest triumph since the World Championships crown in 2019, with her previous title coming at the Syed Modi International in 2024.&nbsp;Yamaguchi, playing her sixth Japan Open final, had enjoyed the upper hand in recent meetings, Sindhu had not beaten her in a completed match in four years, with their last full-match win dating back to the Thailand Open in 2022. Their earlier clash at the Malaysia Open this year ended prematurely after Yamaguchi retired following the opening game.&nbsp;On Sunday, however, Sindhu was in complete command and had the tempo from the outset, mixing powerful smashes with precise net play and consistently found solutions whenever Yamaguchi attempted to shift momentum. Sindhu surged to a 3-0 start before a series of unforced errors and sharp responses from Yamaguchi brought it back to 3-3.&nbsp;The early exchanges saw both players trade errors, with Yamaguchi’s service mistake levelling the score at 5-5. From there, Sindhu began asserting control, constructing rallies patiently and finishing with authority to move 8-6 ahead.&nbsp;A fierce smash extended her lead to 9-6, but back-to-back errors allowed Yamaguchi to claw back. A body smash from the Japanese made it 9-9 and Sindhu misjudged a return to trail by two points at the interval.&nbsp;The Indian responded strongly after the break, winning a 36-shot rally to level at 11-11. A blistering cross-court smash pushed her ahead at 13-12 and she followed it up with a composed stretch of play, forcing errors and winning a net exchange, to build a 16-12 cushion.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/fifa-world-cup-2026-final-guide-when-and-where-to-watch-the-halftime-performances-shakira-bts-tom-cruise-madonna-burna-boy-1784445425170">FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: When and where to watch the halftime performances</a>&nbsp;Yamaguchi fought back with clever placement and resilience and at 17-15, the pair produced a stunning 38-shot rally before the scores were level again.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sindhu, however, elevated her game at the crucial juncture. A sharp cross-court smash and an error from Yamaguchi handed her a 19-17 lead and she soon wrapped up the opening game with a precise push to the backhand corner.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentina-vs-spain-world-cup-final-first-ever-halftime-show-fifa-bends-rules-for-longest-mid-break-in-history-1784453572574">Argentina vs Spain: FIFA bends rules for longest mid-break in World Cup history</a>&nbsp;Carrying that momentum into the second game, Sindhu tightened her grip on the contest. She dominated the forecourt, took the shuttle early and piled pressure on her opponent. A 44-shot rally ended with Yamaguchi hitting wide, as Sindhu strung together six straight points to race to an 8-3 lead.&nbsp;Though a brief dip, including two net errors and a long return, allowed Yamaguchi to close in at 8-7, Sindhu quickly regained composure to enter the interval ahead at 11-7. The Japanese struggled with consistency thereafter, sending multiple returns long and even losing a video challenge as Sindhu stretched the lead to 14-7.&nbsp;Yamaguchi mounted one final push, reducing the deficit to 14-12 with a mix of precision and capitalising on Sindhu’s errors, but the Indian steadied herself at the right moment.&nbsp;Two powerful smashes took her to 17-14 and another error from Yamaguchi left her three points from the title.&nbsp;A hint of nerves saw Sindhu hit the net twice, allowing Yamaguchi to close to 19-17. But the home favourite faltered again with a wide return, handing Sindhu three championship points.&nbsp;&nbsp;She sealed the match when Yamaguchi’s final shot drifted long, a call confirmed on review, before celebrating the landmark win with her coach.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu claimed her maiden Super 750 title by defeating Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the Japan Open final, becoming the first Indian to win the tournament.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu delivered a throwback performance, defeating Akane Yamaguchi in straight games and capturing her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open on Sunday. She became the first Indian to win the tournament, sealing a 21-17, 21-17 victory over the three-time world champion and ending a title drought of more than two years. It also marked her biggest triumph since the World Championships crown in 2019, with her previous title coming at the Syed Modi International in 2024. Yamaguchi, playing her sixth Japan Open final, had enjoyed the upper hand in recent meetings, Sindhu had not beaten her in a completed match in four years, with their last full-match win dating back to the Thailand Open in 2022. Their earlier clash at the Malaysia Open this year ended prematurely after Yamaguchi retired following the opening game. On Sunday, however, Sindhu was in complete command and had the tempo from the outset, mixing powerful smashes with precise net play and consistently found solutions whenever Yamaguchi attempted to shift momentum. Sindhu surged to a 3-0 start before a series of unforced errors and sharp responses from Yamaguchi brought it back to 3-3. The early exchanges saw both players trade errors, with Yamaguchi’s service mistake levelling the score at 5-5. From there, Sindhu began asserting control, constructing rallies patiently and finishing with authority to move 8-6 ahead. A fierce smash extended her lead to 9-6, but back-to-back errors allowed Yamaguchi to claw back. A body smash from the Japanese made it 9-9 and Sindhu misjudged a return to trail by two points at the interval. The Indian responded strongly after the break, winning a 36-shot rally to level at 11-11. A blistering cross-court smash pushed her ahead at 13-12 and she followed it up with a composed stretch of play, forcing errors and winning a net exchange, to build a 16-12 cushion. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: When and where to watch the halftime performances Yamaguchi fought back with clever placement and resilience and at 17-15, the pair produced a stunning 38-shot rally before the scores were level again. Sindhu, however, elevated her game at the crucial juncture. A sharp cross-court smash and an error from Yamaguchi handed her a 19-17 lead and she soon wrapped up the opening game with a precise push to the backhand corner. Also Read - Argentina vs Spain: FIFA bends rules for longest mid-break in World Cup history Carrying that momentum into the second game, Sindhu tightened her grip on the contest. She dominated the forecourt, took the shuttle early and piled pressure on her opponent. A 44-shot rally ended with Yamaguchi hitting wide, as Sindhu strung together six straight points to race to an 8-3 lead. Though a brief dip, including two net errors and a long return, allowed Yamaguchi to close in at 8-7, Sindhu quickly regained composure to enter the interval ahead at 11-7. The Japanese struggled with consistency thereafter, sending multiple returns long and even losing a video challenge as Sindhu stretched the lead to 14-7. Yamaguchi mounted one final push, reducing the deficit to 14-12 with a mix of precision and capitalising on Sindhu’s errors, but the Indian steadied herself at the right moment. Two powerful smashes took her to 17-14 and another error from Yamaguchi left her three points from the title. A hint of nerves saw Sindhu hit the net twice, allowing Yamaguchi to close to 19-17. But the home favourite faltered again with a wide return, handing Sindhu three championship points. She sealed the match when Yamaguchi’s final shot drifted long, a call confirmed on review, before celebrating the landmark win with her coach. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu claimed her maiden Super 750 title by defeating Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the Japan Open final, becoming the first Indian to win the tournament.

PV Sindhu scripts history, becomes first Indian to win BWF Japan Open

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu reached the women’s singles final of the Japan Open 2026 after her semi-final opponent, China’s Chen Yufei, retired with a hamstring injury during the second game on Saturday (Jul 18). World No. 12 Sindhu was leading 21-19, 15-10 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium when world No. 4 Chen, the former Olympic champion, was forced to withdraw after 44 minutes of play, according to Olympics.com.&nbsp;Sindhu will now face Japan’s world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in Sunday’s final. Yamaguchi secured her place in the title match by defeating Indonesia’s world No. 6 Putri Kusuma Wardani in the other semi-final.&nbsp;This will be Sindhu’s first BWF World Tour final since winning the Syed Modi International Super 300 title in December 2024. It will also be her first-ever final at a BWF Super 750 tournament.&nbsp;Sindhu entered the match with an 8-6 head-to-head advantage over Chen and made a confident start, taking a 16-11 lead in the opening game. Chen, who had won their previous four meetings, fought back to level the score at 18-18, but Sindhu stayed calm and closed out the game 21-19.&nbsp;The Indian continued to dominate in the second game, building a 15-10 lead before Chen was forced to retire because of injury.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-us-defends-argentina-for-displaying-malvinas-banner-after-england-win-1784362771340">FIFA 2026 | US defends Argentina for Falkland banner after England win</a>&nbsp;Sindhu’s last victory over Chen came in the semi-finals of the 2019 BWF World Championships, where she went on to win the gold medal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-3rd-odi-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1784369321779">IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;With this win, Sindhu became the first Indian badminton player to reach the Japan Open final. She is also the only Indian left in the tournament.&nbsp;India had a disappointing campaign otherwise, with Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty losing in the opening round. The men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty retired due to injury in their first match, while the mixed doubles duo of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu delivered an outstanding performance to defeat her long-time rival Chen Yufei and book her place in the final of the Japan Open 2026.

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu reached the women’s singles final of the Japan Open 2026 after her semi-final opponent, China’s Chen Yufei, retired with a hamstring injury during the second game on Saturday (Jul 18). World No. 12 Sindhu was leading 21-19, 15-10 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium when world No. 4 Chen, the former Olympic champion, was forced to withdraw after 44 minutes of play, according to Olympics.com. Sindhu will now face Japan’s world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in Sunday’s final. Yamaguchi secured her place in the title match by defeating Indonesia’s world No. 6 Putri Kusuma Wardani in the other semi-final. This will be Sindhu’s first BWF World Tour final since winning the Syed Modi International Super 300 title in December 2024. It will also be her first-ever final at a BWF Super 750 tournament. Sindhu entered the match with an 8-6 head-to-head advantage over Chen and made a confident start, taking a 16-11 lead in the opening game. Chen, who had won their previous four meetings, fought back to level the score at 18-18, but Sindhu stayed calm and closed out the game 21-19. The Indian continued to dominate in the second game, building a 15-10 lead before Chen was forced to retire because of injury. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | US defends Argentina for Falkland banner after England win Sindhu’s last victory over Chen came in the semi-finals of the 2019 BWF World Championships, where she went on to win the gold medal. Also Read - IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: When and where to watch live streaming in India? With this win, Sindhu became the first Indian badminton player to reach the Japan Open final. She is also the only Indian left in the tournament. India had a disappointing campaign otherwise, with Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty losing in the opening round. The men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty retired due to injury in their first match, while the mixed doubles duo of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu delivered an outstanding performance to defeat her long-time rival Chen Yufei and book her place in the final of the Japan Open 2026.

Japan Open 2026: PV Sindhu reaches maiden Super 750 final

PV Sindhu reached the semifinals of the Japan Open 2026 in Tokyo on Friday (Jul 17) after Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara pulled out of their quarterfinal match. The Indian star has now reached her third semifinal of the season after earlier making the last four at the Malaysia Super 1000 and Australia Super 500 tournaments. This is also Sindhu’s first Super 750 semifinal since the 2023 Denmark Open.&nbsp;The 31-year-old will now face China’s Chen Yufei, the Tokyo Olympic champion and world No. 4, as she looks to win her first title of the season. Sindhu trails Chen 6-8 in their overall head-to-head record.&nbsp;Chen has beaten Sindhu in each of their last five meetings, giving the Indian a chance to end that run. A win would also take Sindhu to her first Super 750 final in nearly three years.&nbsp;Earlier, she booked her place in the quarterfinals with a convincing 21-16, 21-14 victory over world No. 5 Han Yue of China in just 35 minutes.&nbsp;Chen, 28, has been in excellent form this season. She won the Indonesia Masters and finished runner-up at the Thailand and Malaysia Super 500 events.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-superstitious-argentina-president-javier-milei-will-not-attend-world-cup-final-against-spain-1784269791781">FIFA 2026 | 'Superstitious' Argentina president Javier Milei will not attend world cup final against Spain</a>&nbsp;She has also reached the semifinals of the Singapore Open, India Open, Malaysia Open and the All England Championships.&nbsp;India’s campaign in the other events came to an end, as in mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost 20-22, 17-21 to China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the pre-quarterfinals.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-argentina-vs-spain-canada-wildfires-cause-new-york-area-air-quality-to-deteriorate-ahead-of-final-1784261614068">FIFA, Argentina vs Spain: New York area air quality deteriorates ahead of final</a>&nbsp;In women’s singles, Unnati Hooda was knocked out by Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Hsun despite taking the second game.&nbsp;India had already exited the men’s doubles competition on Tuesday. Both Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan, lost in the opening round, with Satwik and Chirag also facing another injury setback.

The 31-year-old will now face China’s Chen Yufei, the Tokyo Olympic champion and world No. 4, as she looks to win her first title of the season. Sindhu trails Chen 6-8 in their overall head-to-head record.

PV Sindhu reached the semifinals of the Japan Open 2026 in Tokyo on Friday (Jul 17) after Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara pulled out of their quarterfinal match. The Indian star has now reached her third semifinal of the season after earlier making the last four at the Malaysia Super 1000 and Australia Super 500 tournaments. This is also Sindhu’s first Super 750 semifinal since the 2023 Denmark Open. The 31-year-old will now face China’s Chen Yufei, the Tokyo Olympic champion and world No. 4, as she looks to win her first title of the season. Sindhu trails Chen 6-8 in their overall head-to-head record. Chen has beaten Sindhu in each of their last five meetings, giving the Indian a chance to end that run. A win would also take Sindhu to her first Super 750 final in nearly three years. Earlier, she booked her place in the quarterfinals with a convincing 21-16, 21-14 victory over world No. 5 Han Yue of China in just 35 minutes. Chen, 28, has been in excellent form this season. She won the Indonesia Masters and finished runner-up at the Thailand and Malaysia Super 500 events. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | 'Superstitious' Argentina president Javier Milei will not attend world cup final against Spain She has also reached the semifinals of the Singapore Open, India Open, Malaysia Open and the All England Championships. India’s campaign in the other events came to an end, as in mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost 20-22, 17-21 to China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the pre-quarterfinals. Also Read - FIFA, Argentina vs Spain: New York area air quality deteriorates ahead of final In women’s singles, Unnati Hooda was knocked out by Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Hsun despite taking the second game. India had already exited the men’s doubles competition on Tuesday. Both Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan, lost in the opening round, with Satwik and Chirag also facing another injury setback.

The 31-year-old will now face China’s Chen Yufei, the Tokyo Olympic champion and world No. 4, as she looks to win her first title of the season. Sindhu trails Chen 6-8 in their overall head-to-head record.

Japan Open 2026: PV Sindhu storms into semifinals

India’s star shuttler PV Sindhu continued her impressive run at the Daihatsu Japan Open 2026, a BWF Super 750 tournament, by defeating World No. 5 Han Yue in straight games on Thursday (Jul 16). With the victory, the two-time Olympic medallist and five-time BWF World Championships medallist moved into the quarterfinals, where she will face Japan’s former World No. 1 Nozomi Okuhara on Friday for a place in the semifinals.&nbsp;Sindhu, who had a favourable head-to-head record against Han Yue, recovered well after the early exchanges in the opening game and went on to win it 21-16. She then dominated the second game, racing to an 8-0 lead before sealing a comfortable 21-14 victory. The match lasted just 35 minutes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-watch-bellingham-loses-cool-taps-argentine-player-on-head-after-loss-1784186899416">FIFA 2026 | Bellingham loses cool, taps Argentine player on head after loss - WATCH</a>&nbsp;This is Sindhu’s sixth quarterfinal appearance of the season. She had earlier reached the last eight at the Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore Opens, while making the semifinals in Malaysia and Australia.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-argentina-wave-malvinas-banner-and-fifa-might-reprimand-them-for-it-1784178896206">FIFA 2026 | Argentina wave 'Malvinas' banner &amp; FIFA might reprimand them for it</a>&nbsp;In mixed doubles, India’s campaign came to an end as Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost 22-20, 21-17 to China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the Round of 16.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu advanced to the Japan Open 2026 quarterfinals with a commanding straight-games victory over world No. 5 Han Yue, emerging as India's only remaining contender in the tournament. She will next face Nozomi Okuhara.

India’s star shuttler PV Sindhu continued her impressive run at the Daihatsu Japan Open 2026, a BWF Super 750 tournament, by defeating World No. 5 Han Yue in straight games on Thursday (Jul 16). With the victory, the two-time Olympic medallist and five-time BWF World Championships medallist moved into the quarterfinals, where she will face Japan’s former World No. 1 Nozomi Okuhara on Friday for a place in the semifinals. Sindhu, who had a favourable head-to-head record against Han Yue, recovered well after the early exchanges in the opening game and went on to win it 21-16. She then dominated the second game, racing to an 8-0 lead before sealing a comfortable 21-14 victory. The match lasted just 35 minutes. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | Bellingham loses cool, taps Argentine player on head after loss - WATCH This is Sindhu’s sixth quarterfinal appearance of the season. She had earlier reached the last eight at the Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore Opens, while making the semifinals in Malaysia and Australia. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | Argentina wave 'Malvinas' banner & FIFA might reprimand them for it In mixed doubles, India’s campaign came to an end as Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost 22-20, 21-17 to China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the Round of 16. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu advanced to the Japan Open 2026 quarterfinals with a commanding straight-games victory over world No. 5 Han Yue, emerging as India's only remaining contender in the tournament. She will next face Nozomi Okuhara.

Japan Open 2026: PV Sindhu storms into quarter-finals with straight-sets win

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy’s ongoing shoulder injury cut short India’s campaign in the men’s doubles at the Japan Open on Tuesday, as he and Chirag Shetty retired from their opening-round match. In contrast, P V Sindhu made a confident start to her campaign, cruising into the second round with a straight-game win over Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching.The fourth-seeded Indian duo, who ended a two-year title drought by winning the Singapore Open earlier this season, were forced to withdraw after losing the opening game 19-21 to Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard. The pair had also pulled out of the Indonesia Open last month due to Satwik’s shoulder issue.&nbsp;India’s chief doubles coach Tan Kim Her confirmed that Satwik and Chirag will skip next week’s China Open as they focus on regaining full fitness ahead of the BWF World Championships, which will be held in India in August.&nbsp;“It still needs some time to recover. We have at least four weeks to get back in shape ahead of World Championships," Tan told PTI.&nbsp;Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu enjoyed a comfortable outing against world No. 37 Wong, winning 21-14, 21-11 to book her place in the second round of the BWF Super 750 event.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-is-kylian-mbappe-fit-for-the-semifinal-clash-against-spain-1784024658952">FIFA World Cup 2026: Is Kylian Mbappe fit for the semifinal clash against Spain?</a>&nbsp;Sindhu looked in control from the very beginning, taking charge of the rallies to open up a 7-4 lead. Wong struggled to keep pace as couple of errors helped the Indian extend her advantage to 11-6 at the mid-game interval.&nbsp;The former world champion mixed aggressive smashes with delicate net play, stretching the lead to 14-9. Although she made a few unforced mistakes, but Wong failed to capitalise, as she wrapped up the opening game.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-suffers-major-blow-as-jude-bellingham-s-england-heroics-change-everything-1783995433295">Messi overtaken! Jude Bellingham's England masterclass shakes up FIFA rankings</a>&nbsp;The Indian continued her dominance after the break, racing to an 8-2 lead before taking an 11-3 cushion into the interval. Wong found it difficult to match Sindhu’s consistency as the lead grew to 16-5.&nbsp;The Malaysian briefly reduced the lead with three successive points, but Sindhu quickly regained control, while, Wong eventually hit a smash into the net to hand the Indian 10 match points.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sindhu missed the first before Wong found the net again, sealing a convincing straight-games victory for the Indian.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also progressed after defeating Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Julie Macpherson 21-16, 21-14.&nbsp;However, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde bowed out in the opening round after a 11-21, 10-21 defeat to China’s top-seeded combination of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.&nbsp;Later on Tuesday, Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun were scheduled to face Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in the men’s doubles opening round.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu began her Japan Open 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching in straight games (21-14, 21-11) to book her place in the women's singles second round on Tuesday.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy’s ongoing shoulder injury cut short India’s campaign in the men’s doubles at the Japan Open on Tuesday, as he and Chirag Shetty retired from their opening-round match. In contrast, P V Sindhu made a confident start to her campaign, cruising into the second round with a straight-game win over Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching. The fourth-seeded Indian duo, who ended a two-year title drought by winning the Singapore Open earlier this season, were forced to withdraw after losing the opening game 19-21 to Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard. The pair had also pulled out of the Indonesia Open last month due to Satwik’s shoulder issue. India’s chief doubles coach Tan Kim Her confirmed that Satwik and Chirag will skip next week’s China Open as they focus on regaining full fitness ahead of the BWF World Championships, which will be held in India in August. “It still needs some time to recover. We have at least four weeks to get back in shape ahead of World Championships," Tan told PTI. Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu enjoyed a comfortable outing against world No. 37 Wong, winning 21-14, 21-11 to book her place in the second round of the BWF Super 750 event. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Is Kylian Mbappe fit for the semifinal clash against Spain? Sindhu looked in control from the very beginning, taking charge of the rallies to open up a 7-4 lead. Wong struggled to keep pace as couple of errors helped the Indian extend her advantage to 11-6 at the mid-game interval. The former world champion mixed aggressive smashes with delicate net play, stretching the lead to 14-9. Although she made a few unforced mistakes, but Wong failed to capitalise, as she wrapped up the opening game. Also Read - Messi overtaken! Jude Bellingham's England masterclass shakes up FIFA rankings The Indian continued her dominance after the break, racing to an 8-2 lead before taking an 11-3 cushion into the interval. Wong found it difficult to match Sindhu’s consistency as the lead grew to 16-5. The Malaysian briefly reduced the lead with three successive points, but Sindhu quickly regained control, while, Wong eventually hit a smash into the net to hand the Indian 10 match points. Sindhu missed the first before Wong found the net again, sealing a convincing straight-games victory for the Indian. Meanwhile, India’s mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also progressed after defeating Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Julie Macpherson 21-16, 21-14. However, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde bowed out in the opening round after a 11-21, 10-21 defeat to China’s top-seeded combination of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping. Later on Tuesday, Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun were scheduled to face Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in the men’s doubles opening round. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu began her Japan Open 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching in straight games (21-14, 21-11) to book her place in the women's singles second round on Tuesday.

Japan Open 2026: Sindhu off to winning start, Satwik-Chirag pull out

With just 50 days remaining until the BWF World Championships 2026, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Sunday officially launched the countdown to badminton's biggest tournament. Scheduled to take place from August 17 to 23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, the prestigious event will welcome participants from over 55 countries, including nearly 800 players, team officials, support staff, technical officials and media personnel. The tournament marks the return of the BWF World Championships to India after 17 years and will be hosted in the national capital for the first time.&nbsp;BAI President Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma described the tournament as a milestone for Indian badminton. "The BWF World Championships is an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable progress of Indian badminton, showcase India's capability to deliver a world-class sporting event, and reinforce our commitment to building a stronger sporting ecosystem. It also reflects the growing confidence of the international sporting community in India's ability to host events of the highest standard.”&nbsp;The 30th edition of the Championships will feature the world's best players competing across five disciplines — Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. “I am confident this Championship will leave a lasting legacy for badminton, inspire many more young Indians to dream big, and further strengthen our journey towards becoming a leading sporting nation,” he added.&nbsp;India enters the tournament riding on its most successful era in World Championships history. Since 2011, the country has won at least one medal in every edition of the tournament, collecting 14 medals across 11 consecutive editions, a consistency matched only by China. Two-time Olympic medallist and five-time World Championships medallist PV Sindhu, whose historic gold medal at the 2019 Basel World Championships remains India's biggest achievement at the event, expressed her excitement about competing on home soil.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-girl-who-almost-quit-how-brazil-s-isadora-lopes-de-souza-found-her-true-calling-in-rugby-1782648649537">The girl who almost quit: How Brazil's Isadora Lopes de Souza found her true calling in Rugby</a>&nbsp;“The World Championships have been one of the most special tournaments of my career. Some of my most memorable moments, toughest lessons and proudest achievements have come on this stage. To have the opportunity to play the World Championships in India, in front of our own fans, makes it even more meaningful. It's not often that you get to compete for a world title at home, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing that atmosphere and giving my best for everyone who has supported me through the years. For Indian badminton, hosting the World Championships after 17 years is a landmark moment and a reflection of how far the sport has come in our country. It's a proud occasion for all of us, and I'm excited to be part of an event that I hope inspires many more young players to dream big and believe that they can succeed on the world stage," said Sindhu. For India's current generation of badminton stars, the tournament will offer the rare opportunity to compete for a world title in front of home supporters.&nbsp;BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra believes the event reflects India's rising stature in global badminton. “Indian badminton is at a very exciting stage in its journey. Across the international circuit, we are seeing our young players consistently making breakthroughs, while our experienced athletes continue to compete with the world's best and regularly reach the latter stages of major tournaments. That depth and consistency are clear indicators of how far the sport has progressed in our country. Hosting the BWF World Championships at this moment is both a recognition of India's growing stature in world badminton and an opportunity to build on that momentum. Beyond the competition, the Championships will inspire a new generation of young Indians to pick up a racquet, dream bigger and help shape the future of Indian badminton,” said Mishra.&nbsp;The New Delhi edition will feature some of the biggest names in world badminton. Reigning Olympic champion An Se-young will lead the women's singles draw, while Shi Yu Qi of China and Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand headline a star-studded men's singles field. The doubles competition will also feature elite pairings, including Malaysia's former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, alongside Indonesia's leading combinations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Traditional badminton powerhouses such as Japan, Thailand and Denmark are also expected to field their strongest squads, setting the stage for one of the most competitive editions of the BWF World Championships.

New Delhi begins the 50-day countdown to the BWF World Championships 2026. PV Sindhu, An Se-young, Shi Yu Qi and top badminton stars gear up for the historic tournament in India from August 17-23

With just 50 days remaining until the BWF World Championships 2026, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Sunday officially launched the countdown to badminton's biggest tournament. Scheduled to take place from August 17 to 23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, the prestigious event will welcome participants from over 55 countries, including nearly 800 players, team officials, support staff, technical officials and media personnel. The tournament marks the return of the BWF World Championships to India after 17 years and will be hosted in the national capital for the first time. BAI President Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma described the tournament as a milestone for Indian badminton. "The BWF World Championships is an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable progress of Indian badminton, showcase India's capability to deliver a world-class sporting event, and reinforce our commitment to building a stronger sporting ecosystem. It also reflects the growing confidence of the international sporting community in India's ability to host events of the highest standard.” The 30th edition of the Championships will feature the world's best players competing across five disciplines — Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. “I am confident this Championship will leave a lasting legacy for badminton, inspire many more young Indians to dream big, and further strengthen our journey towards becoming a leading sporting nation,” he added. India enters the tournament riding on its most successful era in World Championships history. Since 2011, the country has won at least one medal in every edition of the tournament, collecting 14 medals across 11 consecutive editions, a consistency matched only by China. Two-time Olympic medallist and five-time World Championships medallist PV Sindhu, whose historic gold medal at the 2019 Basel World Championships remains India's biggest achievement at the event, expressed her excitement about competing on home soil. Also Read: The girl who almost quit: How Brazil's Isadora Lopes de Souza found her true calling in Rugby “The World Championships have been one of the most special tournaments of my career. Some of my most memorable moments, toughest lessons and proudest achievements have come on this stage. To have the opportunity to play the World Championships in India, in front of our own fans, makes it even more meaningful. It's not often that you get to compete for a world title at home, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing that atmosphere and giving my best for everyone who has supported me through the years. For Indian badminton, hosting the World Championships after 17 years is a landmark moment and a reflection of how far the sport has come in our country. It's a proud occasion for all of us, and I'm excited to be part of an event that I hope inspires many more young players to dream big and believe that they can succeed on the world stage," said Sindhu. For India's current generation of badminton stars, the tournament will offer the rare opportunity to compete for a world title in front of home supporters. BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra believes the event reflects India's rising stature in global badminton. “Indian badminton is at a very exciting stage in its journey. Across the international circuit, we are seeing our young players consistently making breakthroughs, while our experienced athletes continue to compete with the world's best and regularly reach the latter stages of major tournaments. That depth and consistency are clear indicators of how far the sport has progressed in our country. Hosting the BWF World Championships at this moment is both a recognition of India's growing stature in world badminton and an opportunity to build on that momentum. Beyond the competition, the Championships will inspire a new generation of young Indians to pick up a racquet, dream bigger and help shape the future of Indian badminton,” said Mishra. The New Delhi edition will feature some of the biggest names in world badminton. Reigning Olympic champion An Se-young will lead the women's singles draw, while Shi Yu Qi of China and Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand headline a star-studded men's singles field. The doubles competition will also feature elite pairings, including Malaysia's former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, alongside Indonesia's leading combinations. Traditional badminton powerhouses such as Japan, Thailand and Denmark are also expected to field their strongest squads, setting the stage for one of the most competitive editions of the BWF World Championships.

New Delhi begins the 50-day countdown to the BWF World Championships 2026 as India prepares to host badminton's biggest event after 17 years

'It's not often that you get to compete for a world title at home', says PV Sindhu

Two-time Asian Games medallist PV Sindhu and men's doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lead a formidable Indian badminton contingent at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced the squad following a review of recent performances across national and international competitions, along with BWF rankings as of May 26.&nbsp;India's men's team will be spearheaded by Lakshya Sen, currently the country's top-ranked men's singles player. Experienced campaigners HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth also retain their places after playing key roles in India's historic silver-medal finish in the men's team event at the previous Asian Games. The squad also reflects India's growing depth in badminton, with several emerging stars earning selection. Badminton Asia Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty joins the team alongside World Junior Championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma and promising youngster Unnati Hooda following impressive performances on the international circuit.&nbsp;BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra believes the current squad reflects the rapid growth of Indian badminton across all categories. "Over the last few months, we have seen encouraging signs across the board, Satwik-Chirag back to their best, Lakshya returning to the world's top 10, the men's team reaching another Thomas Cup podium, Sindhu and our senior players delivering consistently, and younger athletes stepping up with strong performances and important results internationally. This squad has blend of experience, depth and emerging talent, and we believe it has the quality and character to compete strongly at the Asian Games," said Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary, BAI.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-brazil-fans-take-over-new-york-s-times-square-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-clash-against-morocco-1781363516539">WATCH | Brazil fans take over New York's Times Square ahead of FIFA World Cup clash against Morocco</a>&nbsp;India enters the competition carrying significant momentum. The country has won 13 badminton medals in Asian Games history, including a landmark gold medal at the previous edition. The 2022 Asian Games proved to be India's most successful badminton campaign, producing one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.&nbsp;The doubles department remains one of India's strongest areas. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will once again spearhead the men's doubles challenge, while Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun provide additional strength. In women's doubles, the experienced pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela will lead India's challenge alongside the improving duo of Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi.&nbsp;The mixed doubles event will feature India's top-ranked pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, while PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda will represent the nation in women's singles. With a blend of established champions and exciting young talent, India will be aiming to build on its recent success and challenge Asia's badminton powerhouses when competition starts in Japan.<h2>Asian Games 2026, Team India Squad</h2>Team Championship Men's Team: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, H. S. Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, M. R. Arjun, Dhruv Kapila Women's Team: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Devika Sihag, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto Individual Championship Men's Singles (MS): Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty Women's Singles (WS): PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda Men's Doubles (MD): Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty; Hariharan Amsakarunan / M. R. Arjun Women's Doubles (WD): Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand Pullela; Kavipriya Selvam / Simran Singhi Mixed Doubles (XD): Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto

PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty headline India's badminton squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan

Two-time Asian Games medallist PV Sindhu and men's doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lead a formidable Indian badminton contingent at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced the squad following a review of recent performances across national and international competitions, along with BWF rankings as of May 26. India's men's team will be spearheaded by Lakshya Sen, currently the country's top-ranked men's singles player. Experienced campaigners HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth also retain their places after playing key roles in India's historic silver-medal finish in the men's team event at the previous Asian Games. The squad also reflects India's growing depth in badminton, with several emerging stars earning selection. Badminton Asia Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty joins the team alongside World Junior Championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma and promising youngster Unnati Hooda following impressive performances on the international circuit. BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra believes the current squad reflects the rapid growth of Indian badminton across all categories. "Over the last few months, we have seen encouraging signs across the board, Satwik-Chirag back to their best, Lakshya returning to the world's top 10, the men's team reaching another Thomas Cup podium, Sindhu and our senior players delivering consistently, and younger athletes stepping up with strong performances and important results internationally. This squad has blend of experience, depth and emerging talent, and we believe it has the quality and character to compete strongly at the Asian Games," said Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary, BAI. Also Read: WATCH | Brazil fans take over New York's Times Square ahead of FIFA World Cup clash against Morocco India enters the competition carrying significant momentum. The country has won 13 badminton medals in Asian Games history, including a landmark gold medal at the previous edition. The 2022 Asian Games proved to be India's most successful badminton campaign, producing one gold, one silver and one bronze medal. The doubles department remains one of India's strongest areas. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will once again spearhead the men's doubles challenge, while Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun provide additional strength. In women's doubles, the experienced pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela will lead India's challenge alongside the improving duo of Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi. The mixed doubles event will feature India's top-ranked pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, while PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda will represent the nation in women's singles. With a blend of established champions and exciting young talent, India will be aiming to build on its recent success and challenge Asia's badminton powerhouses when competition starts in Japan. Asian Games 2026, Team India Squad Team Championship Men's Team: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, H. S. Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, M. R. Arjun, Dhruv Kapila Women's Team: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Devika Sihag, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto Individual Championship Men's Singles (MS): Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty Women's Singles (WS): PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda Men's Doubles (MD): Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty; Hariharan Amsakarunan / M. R. Arjun Women's Doubles (WD): Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand Pullela; Kavipriya Selvam / Simran Singhi Mixed Doubles (XD): Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto

Ace shuttlers PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Satwik-Chirag lead India's strong badminton squad for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games to be held in Japan

PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Satwik-Chirag headline India's Asian Games 2026 squad

World No. 10 PV Sindhu stormed into the semifinals of the ongoing Australian Open 2026 at the Quaycentre in Sydney after registering a convincing straight-games win over Chen Su Yu. The women’s singles quarterfinal lasted only 27 minutes, with Sindhu dominating from start to finish to secure a 21-6, 21-9 victory. The triumph sends her into her second semifinal of the 2026 season, following her run to the final four at the Malaysia Open 2026.&nbsp;An interesting challenge now awaits the two-time Olympic medallist, who will face top seed and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the semifinals. The upcoming encounter will be the 29th meeting between the two rivals and Sindhu currently leads their head-to-head record 15-13, although Yamaguchi has emerged victorious in four of their last five matches.&nbsp;Yamaguchi booked her place in the last four with a 21-14, 21-14 win over India’s Tanvi Sharma in a 32-minute contest.&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-day-2-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-matches-in-india-canada-vs-bosnia-and-herzegovina-usa-vs-paraguay-1781252565154"> FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 2 live streaming: When and where to watch matches in India?</a>&nbsp;In men’s doubles, the Indian duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun were forced to retire during the second game of their match against a pair from Chinese Taipei.&nbsp;Earlier in the tournament, Sindhu overcame fellow Indian Isharani Baruah 22-20, 21-12 in 42 minutes match. After narrowly clinching a hard-fought opening game, she took complete command of the second to advance to the quarterfinals.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu reached the Australian Open semifinals with a dominant win over Chen Su Yu and will face top seed Akane Yamaguchi next. Rising Indian player Tanvi Sharma was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

World No. 10 PV Sindhu stormed into the semifinals of the ongoing Australian Open 2026 at the Quaycentre in Sydney after registering a convincing straight-games win over Chen Su Yu. The women’s singles quarterfinal lasted only 27 minutes, with Sindhu dominating from start to finish to secure a 21-6, 21-9 victory. The triumph sends her into her second semifinal of the 2026 season, following her run to the final four at the Malaysia Open 2026. An interesting challenge now awaits the two-time Olympic medallist, who will face top seed and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the semifinals. The upcoming encounter will be the 29th meeting between the two rivals and Sindhu currently leads their head-to-head record 15-13, although Yamaguchi has emerged victorious in four of their last five matches. Yamaguchi booked her place in the last four with a 21-14, 21-14 win over India’s Tanvi Sharma in a 32-minute contest. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 2 live streaming: When and where to watch matches in India? In men’s doubles, the Indian duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun were forced to retire during the second game of their match against a pair from Chinese Taipei. Earlier in the tournament, Sindhu overcame fellow Indian Isharani Baruah 22-20, 21-12 in 42 minutes match. After narrowly clinching a hard-fought opening game, she took complete command of the second to advance to the quarterfinals. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu reached the Australian Open semifinals with a dominant win over Chen Su Yu and will face top seed Akane Yamaguchi next. Rising Indian player Tanvi Sharma was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

Australian Open 2026: PV Sindhu reaches semifinals after dominant victory

PV Sindhu's campaign at the Indonesia Open 2026 came to an end on Thursday (Jun 4) after she suffered a straight-games defeat to world No. 1 An Se Young, marking her second loss to the South Korean in as many weeks. Having also fallen to An in the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open last week, Sindhu once again fell short and was unable to sustain the pressure, eventually losing 17-21, 14-21 in the round of 16. The defeat extended the Indian star's winless streak against the reigning Olympic champion to 10 matches, with Sindhu still searching for her first victory over An.&nbsp;The opening game was started on an even note, with both players locked at 10-10 midway through, then Sindhu produced several attacking shots and briefly edged ahead at 15-14, but An quickly regained control, stringing together crucial points to move 19-16 ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-for-india-virat-kohli-ruled-out-of-afghanistan-odi-series-with-hamstring-injury-report-1780550854358">Big blow for India! Virat Kohli ruled out of Afghanistan ODI series with hamstring injury: Report</a>&nbsp;The South Korean then sealed the first game with two consecutive points, including a demanding 41-shot rally.&nbsp;An started the second game strongly and built a 13-6 lead, while Sindhu tried to make a comeback. However, the South Korean maintained her advantage with solid all-round play and went on to win the game 21-14 to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

After losing to An Se Young in Singapore last week, Sindhu once again fell short, losing 17-21, 14-21 in the round of 16.

PV Sindhu's campaign at the Indonesia Open 2026 came to an end on Thursday (Jun 4) after she suffered a straight-games defeat to world No. 1 An Se Young, marking her second loss to the South Korean in as many weeks. Having also fallen to An in the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open last week, Sindhu once again fell short and was unable to sustain the pressure, eventually losing 17-21, 14-21 in the round of 16. The defeat extended the Indian star's winless streak against the reigning Olympic champion to 10 matches, with Sindhu still searching for her first victory over An. The opening game was started on an even note, with both players locked at 10-10 midway through, then Sindhu produced several attacking shots and briefly edged ahead at 15-14, but An quickly regained control, stringing together crucial points to move 19-16 ahead. Also Read - Big blow for India! Virat Kohli ruled out of Afghanistan ODI series with hamstring injury: Report The South Korean then sealed the first game with two consecutive points, including a demanding 41-shot rally. An started the second game strongly and built a 13-6 lead, while Sindhu tried to make a comeback. However, the South Korean maintained her advantage with solid all-round play and went on to win the game 21-14 to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

After losing to An Se Young in Singapore last week, Sindhu once again fell short, losing 17-21, 14-21 in the round of 16.

Indonesia Open 2026: PV Sindhu suffers another defeat to Se Young, ends campaign

India’s campaign at the Indonesia Open 2026 began on a mixed note on Tuesday (Jun 2), as two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the second round, while former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth exited the tournament in the opening round. Sindhu overcame a strong challenge from Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand, securing a 25-23, 21-16 victory in the women’s singles Round of 32. The contest lasted 51 minutes, with the Indian star relying on her aggressive style of play to clinch a tightly contested first game before taking control of the second and sealing the match in straight games.&nbsp;The former world champion is now expected to face reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young in the next round. Sindhu had lost to the South Korean in the quarterfinals of last week’s Singapore Open and is yet to register a win against her in nine meetings.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-s-schedule-after-ipl-2026-complete-list-of-matches-dates-and-venues-1780387433672">Team India's schedule after IPL 2026: Complete list of matches, dates and venues</a>&nbsp;In the men’s singles, Srikanth’s campaign ended early after he went down 19-21, 15-21 to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka. There was further disappointment for India as Malvika Bansod outclassed in the first round, suffering a one-sided 12-21, 10-21 defeat to seventh seed Pornpawee Chochuwong.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-reschedules-women-s-champions-trophy-2027-to-february-window-1780384079095">ICC reschedules Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February window</a>&nbsp;On the positive side, the men’s doubles duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun advanced to the second round with a commanding 21-18, 21-10 win over the higher-ranked Malaysian pair of Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong.&nbsp;Later in the day, Indian shuttlers Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand in women’s doubles, Lakshya Sen in men’s singles and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were scheduled to begin their campaigns.

PV Sindhu is likely to face reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young next, having lost to her in the Singapore quarterfinals last week.

India’s campaign at the Indonesia Open 2026 began on a mixed note on Tuesday (Jun 2), as two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the second round, while former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth exited the tournament in the opening round. Sindhu overcame a strong challenge from Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand, securing a 25-23, 21-16 victory in the women’s singles Round of 32. The contest lasted 51 minutes, with the Indian star relying on her aggressive style of play to clinch a tightly contested first game before taking control of the second and sealing the match in straight games. The former world champion is now expected to face reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young in the next round. Sindhu had lost to the South Korean in the quarterfinals of last week’s Singapore Open and is yet to register a win against her in nine meetings. Also Read - Team India's schedule after IPL 2026: Complete list of matches, dates and venues In the men’s singles, Srikanth’s campaign ended early after he went down 19-21, 15-21 to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka. There was further disappointment for India as Malvika Bansod outclassed in the first round, suffering a one-sided 12-21, 10-21 defeat to seventh seed Pornpawee Chochuwong. Also Read - ICC reschedules Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February window On the positive side, the men’s doubles duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun advanced to the second round with a commanding 21-18, 21-10 win over the higher-ranked Malaysian pair of Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong. Later in the day, Indian shuttlers Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand in women’s doubles, Lakshya Sen in men’s singles and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were scheduled to begin their campaigns.

PV Sindhu is likely to face reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young next, having lost to her in the Singapore quarterfinals last week.

Indonesia Open 2026: PV Sindhu advances to Round of 16, Srikanth, Malvika exit

Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made winning starts to their Singapore Open journey, progressing to the next round with impressive performances at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Tuesday (May 26). Sindhu registered a straight-game victory over Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani, winning 21-17, 21-18 in the women’s singles event, while, Satwik and Chirag edged past Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 in a hard-fought men’s doubles clash.&nbsp;The 2022 Singapore Open champion Sindhu outclassed the fifth-seeded Wardani to draw level in their head-to-head record at 3-3. She looked in total control early in the opening game, building a comfortable lead before the Indonesian had a comeback. However, Sindhu regained momentum at 16-16 and finished strongly with five consecutive points to take the game.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-vs-gt-qualifier-1-ipl-2026-captain-shubman-gill-wins-the-toss-and-bowls-first-against-bengaluru-at-world-prettiest-ground-1779802417922">Qualifier 1 IPL 2026: GT captain Gill bowls first against RCB at ‘world’s prettiest ground’</a>&nbsp;The second game was closely contested, as Sindhu held her nerve during crucial moments and wrapped up the match in straight games. She will now face Japan’s Riko Gunji in the pre-quarterfinals.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-about-srh-vs-rr-eliminator-timing-squad-h2h-more-1779793245168">IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about SRH vs RR Eliminator</a>&nbsp;In the men’s doubles contest, world no. 4 pair Satwik and Chirag narrowly lost the opening game despite saving seven game points in a tense battle. The Indian pair bounced back in the second game to force a decider before dominating the third to seal victory in one hour and 15 minutes game. They are set to meet Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in the Round of 16.&nbsp;Meanwhile, in men's singles, Ayush Shetty showed strong fight against Victor Lai but lost the match. After comfortably taking the first game 21-11, the Indian shuttler lost momentum and eventually suffered a 14-21, 12-21 defeat in the next two games. Other Indian players in action on the opening day also exited after losing their respective matches.

PV Sindhu defeated fifth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty edged past Malaysia’s Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith.

Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made winning starts to their Singapore Open journey, progressing to the next round with impressive performances at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Tuesday (May 26). Sindhu registered a straight-game victory over Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani, winning 21-17, 21-18 in the women’s singles event, while, Satwik and Chirag edged past Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 in a hard-fought men’s doubles clash. The 2022 Singapore Open champion Sindhu outclassed the fifth-seeded Wardani to draw level in their head-to-head record at 3-3. She looked in total control early in the opening game, building a comfortable lead before the Indonesian had a comeback. However, Sindhu regained momentum at 16-16 and finished strongly with five consecutive points to take the game. Also Read - Qualifier 1 IPL 2026: GT captain Gill bowls first against RCB at ‘world’s prettiest ground’ The second game was closely contested, as Sindhu held her nerve during crucial moments and wrapped up the match in straight games. She will now face Japan’s Riko Gunji in the pre-quarterfinals. Also Read - IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about SRH vs RR Eliminator In the men’s doubles contest, world no. 4 pair Satwik and Chirag narrowly lost the opening game despite saving seven game points in a tense battle. The Indian pair bounced back in the second game to force a decider before dominating the third to seal victory in one hour and 15 minutes game. They are set to meet Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, in men's singles, Ayush Shetty showed strong fight against Victor Lai but lost the match. After comfortably taking the first game 21-11, the Indian shuttler lost momentum and eventually suffered a 14-21, 12-21 defeat in the next two games. Other Indian players in action on the opening day also exited after losing their respective matches.

PV Sindhu defeated fifth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty edged past Malaysia’s Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith.

PV Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag advance to second round at Singapore Open

pv-sindhu

Pv Sindhu, News on Pv Sindhu, stories on Pv Sindhu, articles on Pv Sindhu, Pv Sindhu stories at Wion, Pv Sindhu news, Pv Sindhu latest news

pv sindhu

French Open: Sindhu finishes runner-up after final loss to An Se Young

French Open: PV Sindhu storms into final with win over Hina Akechi

French Open: PV Sindhu beats Chiu Pin-chian to seal semi-final spot

Arctic Open: PV Sindhu storms into quarterfinals, set to face Intanon

Asian Games: PV Sindhu shines as India crush Kazakhstan to reach quarterfinals

‘I don’t know if she was injured’: PV Sindhu questions Wang Zhi Yi’s tactics

Treesa-Gayatri create history; Satwik-Chirag advance; Sindhu and Ayush bow out

PV Sindhu Reaches World Championships Round Of 16 As Lakshya Sen Suffers Shock Exit

BWF World C'ships: Familiar foe, fresh battle: PV Sindhu vs Wang Zi Ying clash

BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Ayush march on as Lakshya, Unnati bow out

BWF World C'ships 2026: Ayush Shetty upsets reigning world champion Shi Yuqi

BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag lead India's home challenge

BWF World Championships 2026: Full schedule, India’s top players, dates & venue

BWF World Championships: PV Sindhu cites Wimbledon’s Hawk to defend monkey-control plan

Langur mimicry atrists depolyed to keep monkeys away at BWF World Championships

'Couldn't be...': PV Sindhu praises Tanvi Sharma after Taipei Open 2026 triumph

PV Sindhu slams China Open scheduling after second-round exit to Chen Yufei

China Open: Sindhu survives Unnati Hooda challenge, Shetty upsets World No. 11

'It will...': Sindhu on how Japan Open triumph fuels World Championships hopes

'Historic feat for...': PM Modi congratulates PV Sindhu on Japan Open victory

PV Sindhu scripts history, becomes first Indian to win BWF Japan Open

Japan Open 2026: PV Sindhu reaches maiden Super 750 final

Japan Open 2026: PV Sindhu storms into semifinals

Japan Open 2026: PV Sindhu storms into quarter-finals with straight-sets win

Japan Open 2026: Sindhu off to winning start, Satwik-Chirag pull out

'It's not often that you get to compete for a world title at home': PV Sindhu