Indian Badminton Stars Shine at BWF World Championships 2026

The BWF World Championships 2026 has seen remarkable performances from Indian badminton players. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the Round of 16 after their opponents withdrew. Other notable achievements include victories by Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila in mixed doubles, as well as strong showings from Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda in their respective categories. However, some pairs faced tough losses, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament. Read on for a detailed overview of the matches and outcomes.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 19, 2026, 13:15 IST

Advancement of Top Men's Doubles Team

The leading men's doubles duo from India, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have successfully moved into the Round of 16 at the BWF World Championships 2026. This advancement came after their Scottish opponents, Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle, withdrew from their scheduled match on Wednesday.

Walkover for Indian Pair

Ranked fifth, the Indian pair was set to kick off their campaign after receiving a bye in the first round. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced on social media, "The Indian pair are through to the BWF World Championships 2026 pre-quarters after receiving a walkover."

Other Indian Players Progress

In other matches, the mixed doubles team of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila also reached the pre-quarterfinals, defeating Macau's Leong Iok Chon and Ng Weng Chi with a score of 21-11, 21-11.

Lakshya Sen showcased a strong performance, overcoming Austria's Collins Valentine Filimon in a thrilling three-game match, winning 16-21, 21-8, 21-4 in 45 minutes.

Women's Singles Success

Unnati Hooda also advanced in the women's singles category, defeating Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar with scores of 22-20, 21-16. Hooda faced a tough challenge in the first game but managed to secure the win.

Mixed Results in Doubles

In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand progressed to the Round of 16 after a solid victory over American duo Lauren Lam and Allison Lee, winning 21-15, 21-12. The Indian pair, ranked 39th globally, maintained their composure throughout the match.

Conversely, Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi's journey ended in the Round of 32, where they lost to Bulgarian sisters Stefani and Gabriela Stoeva with scores of 7-21, 14-21.

The mixed doubles category saw Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh, who entered as last-minute reserves, face a dramatic defeat against Turkiye's Emre Sonmez and Yesemen Bektas, losing 16-21, 30-29, 24-22.

Ruthvika Gadde and Rohan Kapoor also exited the tournament after a close match against Canada's Crystal Lai and Jonathan Lai, winning the first game 22-20 but ultimately losing the next two games 19-21, 17-21.