India's Contingent Aims for Success at BWF World Championships

India will be represented by a squad of 14 shuttlers at the BWF World Championships, commencing next week at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The tournament marks a significant opportunity for the Indian team to continue a medal-winning streak that dates back to 2011. Since the event's inception, India has secured 15 medals—10 bronze, four silver, and one gold. P.V. Sindhu remains India's only world champion, having won the title in 2019, and is also the most decorated player at the Championships with five medals: one gold, two silver, and two bronze, a record she shares with Zhang Ning of China.

India has reached the podium in every edition since 2011, with the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty winning bronze in 2025. The Indian contingent, enjoying home support, will aim to uphold this impressive tradition. The squad includes two entries each in men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, and mixed doubles, alongside one women's doubles pair.

P.V. Sindhu, who recently claimed the Japan Open title, leads the Indian challenge. She begins her quest for a record sixth World Championships medal alongside Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen in men's singles and the fifth-seeded duo of Satwik and Chirag. Sindhu is set to face Ireland's world number 141, Sophia Noble, in her first-round match, offering a promising start. However, the draw presents a challenging path ahead. Although she has sidestepped facing world number one An Se Young of South Korea and defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan until the later rounds, Sindhu is projected to encounter third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China in the pre-quarterfinals. A potential last-eight clash with Indonesia's sixth seed Putri Wardani could also be on the horizon. Last year, Sindhu defeated Wang but lost to Wardani in the quarter-finals. Having already overcome the Indonesian in the Singapore Open earlier this year, Sindhu is expected to be confident in her pursuit of a semi-final spot and potentially a bronze medal.

Lakshya Sen, bronze medallist at the 2021 World Championships, has a more favorable draw. He is set to open against Collins Valentine Filimon of Austria and anticipates facing second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the pre-quarterfinals. Kunlavut presents a significant challenge, having previously defeated Lakshya at the 2023 World Championships. However, Lakshya managed to win their latest encounter at the Thailand Open earlier this year, providing some optimism. If he advances, he may face Singapore's Loh Kean Yew or Hong Kong's Victor Lai in the semi-finals, with Lai winning two of their three meetings this year, adding another layer of difficulty.

Ayush Aggarwal faces the toughest opening round among the Indian singles competitors, squaring off against defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China. Shi has bested Ayush three times in the last nine months, including in the finals of this year's Asian Championships.

In men's doubles, Satwik and Chirag, who are seeded fifth, have received a first-round bye and will take on either Scotland's Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle or Thailand's Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn and Worrapol Thongsa-Nga. Their notable challenge is expected to emerge in the pre-quarterfinals against Indonesia's 12th-seeded pair, Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, who were runners-up at the Indonesia Open earlier this year. They could potentially face China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in the quarter-finals and Indonesia's second-seeded duo of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the semi-finals. Importantly, the duo avoids the defending champions Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho until a potential final, enhancing their chances.

Unnati Hooda begins her women's singles campaign against Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar and could encounter Canada's 13th seed Michelle Li in the subsequent round. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, seeded 15th, have received a first-round bye and may face China's sixth-seeded pair Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui in the pre-quarterfinals. Rohan Kapoor and G Ruthvika Shivani will initiate their tournament against Canada's Jonathan Lai and Crystal Lai. Meanwhile, women's doubles participants Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand—who secured bronze at the Commonwealth Games—will compete against Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez, while Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam contend with another Spanish pairing, Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jimenez. India's second men's doubles pair, M.R. Arjun and H.Amsakarunan, will commence their journey against Ireland's Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds.

With high hopes and robust support from fans, the Indian contingent aims to further its legacy in badminton at the World Championships.