India Shines on Opening Day of BWF World Championships 2026

India's Impressive Start at BWF World Championships

New Delhi, August 17: India kicked off the BWF World Championships 2026 with an outstanding performance, as all five Indian competitors triumphed in their initial matches at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Monday.

The day was marked by a remarkable upset, with 21-year-old Ayush Shetty defeating the top seed and reigning champion Shi Yu Qi from China. PV Sindhu also had a strong start, winning her match in straight games, while three Indian doubles teams advanced to the Round of 32.

This tournament is particularly significant as it is being held in India for the first time since 2009, running from August 17 to 23.

Shetty's victory was the highlight of the day, as he overcame world No. 1 Shi with scores of 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a thrilling men's singles Round of 64 match.

In front of an enthusiastic home crowd, Shetty played aggressively, utilizing powerful smashes and precise net play to pressure Shi. He dominated the first game, winning it 21-14.

Shi responded strongly in the second game, capitalizing on Shetty's errors to take it 21-13, forcing a decisive third game.

The final game was fiercely contested, with Shetty leading 11-5 at the break. Although Shi mounted a comeback, Shetty maintained his composure to clinch the match 21-19.

This victory also served as a form of revenge for Shetty, who had lost to Shi in the Badminton Asia Championships final earlier this year. He now looks forward to his next match in the Round of 32.

Meanwhile, PV Sindhu, a five-time World Championships medallist, showcased her skills against Ireland's Sophia Noble, winning decisively with scores of 21-7, 21-11 in the women's singles Round of 64.

Sindhu controlled the match from the beginning, using a mix of accurate drop shots and powerful smashes to keep Noble under pressure. The Irish player struggled to keep up with Sindhu's pace, leading to a comfortable victory for the Indian star.

Sindhu, who has won one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals at the World Championships, is set to face Canada's Wen Yu Zhang in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.

In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also had a strong start, defeating Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez with a score of 21-9, 21-9.

The world No. 39 Indian duo took just over 30 minutes to secure their win, with Treesa's aggressive play complementing Gayatri's swift movements at the net.

Despite a brief challenge from the Spanish pair in the second game, Treesa and Gayatri maintained their composure to seal the victory.

They will next face the American duo of Lauren Lam and Allison Lee in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.

Another Indian women's doubles pair, Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi, also advanced by defeating Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez with scores of 22-20, 21-14.

After a tough first game, the Indian duo held their nerve to win the crucial points and then controlled the second game to secure their place in the next round.

They will compete against Bulgarian sisters Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva in the Round of 32.

In men's doubles, MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan progressed after their opponents from Ireland were forced to retire due to injury. The Indian pair had taken the first game 21-16 and were leading 6-4 in the second when the match ended.

Arjun and Hariharan will face South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju in their next match.

With all five Indian entries winning their opening matches, the hosts have made a strong statement on the first day of the home World Championships.

More action is expected on Tuesday as the successful players return for their Round of 32 matches, aiming to build on their perfect start.