Ayush Shetty and PV Sindhu Shine at Badminton Asia Championships 2026

At the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in China, India's Ayush Shetty, PV Sindhu, and HS Prannoy have made significant strides by reaching the pre-quarterfinals. Ayush delivered a stunning upset against World No. 7 Li Shi Feng, while Sindhu showcased her resilience in a comeback victory over Wong Ling Ching. HS Prannoy also secured his spot with a solid win. However, other Indian players faced early exits. Read on for more details about their performances and upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 9, 2026, 00:19 IST

India's Badminton Stars Advance

At the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 held at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre in China, India's promising player Ayush Shetty, along with former World Champion PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy, has successfully reached the pre-quarterfinals.

Ayush Shetty's Remarkable Upset

In a stunning performance, Ayush Shetty, the US Open 2025 champion, triumphed over World No. 7 and Hong Kong Open 2025 winner Li Shi Feng from China. He secured victory in straight games, finishing 21-13, 21-16 in just 51 minutes. Although Li started strong in both games, Ayush took control in the latter stages, advancing to the round of 16.

During the first game, Ayush quickly leveled the score at 4-4, with Li maintaining a slight lead until 7-7. However, Ayush surged ahead to clinch the game 21-13. The second game mirrored this pattern, with Li initially applying pressure. Ayush managed to equalize several times and took command at 13-13, ultimately winning six consecutive points to finish the match 21-16. His next opponent will be Chi Yu Jen from Chinese Taipei.

PV Sindhu's Tenacious Comeback

In the women's singles, PV Sindhu overcame Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching with a score of 15-21, 21-11, 21-19, taking 1 hour and 7 minutes to secure her win. She is set to face World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi from China in the pre-quarterfinals, with both players having an equal 3-3 record in their previous encounters.

HS Prannoy Advances with Confidence

HS Prannoy also made his mark in men's singles, defeating Nguyen Hai Dang from Vietnam with scores of 24-22, 21-12 in 47 minutes. He will compete against Hong Yang from China in the pre-quarterfinals, following Yang's walkover in the opening round.

Mixed Results for Other Indian Players

Unfortunately, other Indian shuttlers including Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Malvika Bansod, and Tanvi Sharma were eliminated in their respective opening matches.