Indian Women's Doubles Team Triumphs at BWF World Championships 2026

The BWF World Championships 2026 kicked off in New Delhi with Indian women's doubles pair Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi securing a straight-sets victory over Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez. The duo's win was part of a successful opening day for India, with all five local entries advancing in their respective matches. Notable performances included MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan in men's doubles, and PV Sindhu in women's singles. Ayush Shetty delivered a major upset by defeating the defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China. The championships are being held in India for the first time in 17 years.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 17, 2026, 23:47 IST

Indian Women's Doubles Team Shines

The Indian women's doubles team, comprising Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi, kicked off their BWF World Championships 2026 journey with a convincing straight-sets win against Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Monday. The duo secured their victory with scores of 22-20 and 21-14 in the Round of 64, advancing to the next round of the tournament hosted in India.

Match Highlights

In a tightly contested first game, both pairs struggled to gain a significant lead. However, the Indian players maintained their composure in the final moments, narrowly winning the game 22-20. The second game saw Kavipriya and Simran take control, converting their chances effectively to finish the match at 21-14.

Next Challenge

The Indian duo is set to face the Bulgarian sisters, Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva, in the Round of 32 on Tuesday. This victory marked a successful start for India, with all five local entries winning their respective opening matches at the World Championships.

Other Indian Victories

Earlier in the day, MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan progressed in men's doubles after their opponents from Ireland, Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds, retired due to injury. The Indian pair had won the first game 21-16 and were leading 6-4 in the second when the Irish team withdrew. They will next compete against South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju.

Additionally, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced by defeating Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez with a score of 21-9, 21-9. They will face American players Lauren Lam and Allison Lee in the next round.

PV Sindhu also had a strong start in her women's singles match, winning 21-7, 21-11 against Ireland's Sophia Noble, and will go up against Canada's Wen Yu Zhang next.

Ayush Shetty's Stunning Upset

One of the most remarkable outcomes for India came from Ayush Shetty, who achieved a stunning upset by defeating the top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi from China with scores of 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in the men's singles Round of 64.

World Championships Return to India

The 2026 World Championships are taking place in New Delhi from August 17 to 23, marking the event's return to India after a gap of 17 years.