Indian Men's Doubles Team Exits BWF World Championships After Tough Match

The Indian men's doubles team of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun exited the BWF World Championships 2026 after a challenging match against South Korea's Kang Min Hyuk and Ki Dong Ju. Despite a strong start, the duo struggled to convert opportunities, ultimately losing in straight games. The players reflected on their performance, acknowledging the need for longer rallies and the impact of errors on their game. While their journey ended, their performance offered hope for future tournaments. India had a mixed day overall, with some players advancing while others faced elimination.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 19, 2026, 22:12 IST

Indian Pair Falls to Korean Opponents

The men's doubles duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun faced elimination from the BWF World Championships 2026, losing to South Korea's 15th seeds, Kang Min Hyuk and Ki Dong Ju, in straight sets at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.

Despite a strong effort in the first game, the Indian team was unable to capitalize on their chances, ultimately succumbing with scores of 21-17, 21-14 against the former world champions.

Match Insights from the Players

Reflecting on their performance, Hariharan noted that they anticipated needing to engage in lengthy rallies to penetrate the Korean defense. He stated, "We understood it would be a challenging match. We aimed for rallies of at least 10 to 12 points. The first game was tightly contested, reaching 15-all, but we made some crucial errors afterward. The second game was slower, and we struggled to finish our smashes. Nonetheless, it was a good match, and we look forward to future tournaments."

Arjun echoed his partner's sentiments, emphasizing that their strategy was effective initially but faltered at critical moments. He remarked, "In the first game, we scored points with speed. Our plan was to start strong and force the Koreans to move. They are known for their defensive strength, but we executed our tactics well initially. However, failing to close out the first game ultimately cost us the match."

Challenges Faced During the Match

The Indian pair encountered difficulties on the slower side of the court in the second game. Arjun highlighted that errors after reaching 15-15 were pivotal. He explained, "If we hadn't made those mistakes from 15-all, we might have won the first set. Playing from that side was tough due to the slower shuttle. Mistakes were our downfall today."

Hariharan's powerful smashes were a highlight, consistently troubling the Korean defense when executed. However, the duo struggled to maintain their offensive pressure against the seasoned opponents.

Arjun added that the playing conditions impacted their lifts in the second game, allowing the Koreans to capitalize on their attacks. He stated, "Our lifts weren't reaching the necessary height, which allowed them to dominate with their smashes. Our depth was lacking, making it easier for them to score."

India's Mixed Results at the Championships

Although Hariharan and Arjun's journey at the World Championships ended, their performance against the experienced Korean pair was encouraging, particularly in the first game.

India experienced a mixed day in both men's and women's singles and doubles events. Ayush Shetty advanced to the pre-quarterfinals with a commanding 21-8, 21-10 victory over Sri Lanka's Dumindu Abeywickrama, while PV Sindhu also progressed by defeating Canada's Wen Yu Zhang 21-16, 21-17.

Unnati Hooda's first World Championships campaign concluded in the second round after a thrilling match against Canada's 13th seed Michelle Li, ending with scores of 21-11, 9-21, 21-23.

Lakshya Sen was also eliminated, suffering a surprising defeat to USA's world No. 92 Garret Tan with scores of 19-21, 21-19, 21-17. However, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced with a solid 21-11, 21-11 win over Macau's Leong Lok Chong and Ng Weng Chi, while fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed via a walkover.