NEW DELHI | August 20, 2026
India’s Badminton Stars Enter Round-of-16 Action
India’s leading badminton stars PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are at the centre of attention as the BWF World Championships 2026 reach the Round of 16 in New Delhi.
The tournament is being played at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, with India hosting the World Championships for the first time since 2009. Thursday’s schedule features several Indian players fighting for places in the quarter-finals.
Sindhu Targets Quarter-Final Place
Two-time world champion PV Sindhu has progressed to the pre-quarterfinal stage after winning her opening matches at the home World Championships.
Sindhu is among the biggest names in India’s campaign and will face a tougher test in the Round of 16 as she looks to continue her run towards another World Championships medal.
The experienced Indian shuttler will be hoping to use the support of the home crowd as she attempts to move into the last eight.
Satwik-Chirag Enter Round of 16
India’s fifth-seeded men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have also reached the Round of 16.
The Indian duo received a walkover in their scheduled second-round match after Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle withdrew. As a result, Satwik and Chirag advanced without taking to the court.
The pair now begin their actual knockout challenge with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Ayush Shetty Continues Impressive Run
Young Indian men’s singles player Ayush Shetty has also emerged as one of the tournament’s major talking points.
Shetty produced one of the biggest upsets of the championships when he defeated defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in the opening round. The Indian won the three-game contest 21-14, 13-21, 21-19.
He subsequently progressed to the pre-quarterfinals, keeping India’s men’s singles hopes alive following Lakshya Sen’s elimination.
Lakshya Sen Suffers Shock Exit
India’s campaign has also suffered a major setback.
World No. 14 Lakshya Sen was knocked out in the second round after losing to the USA’s Garrett Tan, ranked 92nd in the world.
Tan won the closely contested match 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 after 73 minutes, ending Sen’s singles campaign at the home World Championships.
Strong Home Support for Indian Players
The 2026 World Championships have generated considerable interest in India because the prestigious tournament has returned to the country after a 17-year gap.
New Delhi is hosting the event from August 17 to 23, bringing the world’s leading badminton players to the capital.
For India’s players, competing at home provides an opportunity to perform in front of a large and passionate domestic audience.
India’s Medal Hopes Remain Alive
India has maintained a medal-winning presence at the BWF World Championships since 2011, and the current campaign offers several opportunities to continue that record.
Sindhu’s experience, the strength of Satwik-Chirag and Ayush Shetty’s breakthrough run have kept Indian hopes high as the competition enters its decisive stages.
The Round of 16 will now determine which Indian contenders move one step closer to the podium.
Quarter-Final Spots on the Line
Thursday’s action represents a crucial stage of the tournament. With the competition moving into the knockout rounds, every match carries significantly greater importance.
For Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag, the immediate target is clear: win their Round-of-16 contests and secure a place in the quarter-finals.
With home support behind them, India’s leading shuttlers will now look to turn their promising starts into a deep run at the New Delhi World Championships.
Source: BWF, Olympics.com, India Today, Times of India, Outlook India.
Original Report: Supreme News Network (SSN)
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