Lakshya Sen Triumphs in India Open 2026 Opener Against Ayush Shetty

Lakshya Sen's Strong Start at India Open 2026

New Delhi, January 13: Lakshya Sen, the Commonwealth Games champion, kicked off his India Open 2026 journey with a convincing victory over fellow Indian player Ayush Shetty on Tuesday.

In this encounter, Lakshya showcased his skills against the young shuttler, who claimed the US Open title last year, dominating the match and securing a straight-sets win with scores of 21-12 and 21-15.

Additionally, the eighth-ranked women’s doubles team, comprising Commonwealth Games silver medalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, triumphed over Thailand's Ornnicha Jonggsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai with a score of 21-15, 21-11.

Unfortunately, the mixed doubles duo of Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K faced an early exit in the first round, as did the women’s doubles pair of Priya Konjegbam and Shruti Mishra.

The India Open 2026, classified as a World Tour Super 750 event, is taking place from January 13 to 18. This tournament serves as a precursor to the prestigious World Championships 2026, with badminton matches being held in the expansive multi-purpose hall at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, promising fans an enhanced viewing experience.

This year's India Open has drawn top badminton talent from around the globe, including World Champions Shi Yu Qi from China, women's world number one An Se Young, and BWF World Tour Finals champion Christo Popov. A total of 256 athletes from 20 nations will compete over the next five days, with Chinese Taipei sending the largest delegation of 36 players.