World Championships Draw: Ayush Faces Defending Champion, Sindhu and Lakshya Get Easier Starts

India's campaign at the BWF World Championships 2026 has begun with a mix of optimism and challenge after the tournament draw handed contrasting opening-round assignments to the country's leading shuttlers.

While PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen received relatively comfortable first-round opponents, rising star Ayush Shetty faces the toughest possible start against defending world champion Shi Yuqi of China.

The prestigious tournament, returning to India after 17 years, will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi from August 17 to 23, with the host nation hoping to make a strong impact in front of home fans.

Former world champion Sindhu, chasing a record sixth World Championships medal, will begin her campaign against Ireland's Sophia Nobel. Fresh from her Japan Open triumph, the Indian ace has avoided several top contenders in the early rounds and could build momentum before tougher knockout matches.

Lakshya Sen, who claimed bronze at the 2021 World Championships, opens against Austria's Collins Valentine Filimon. If he advances as expected, a high-intensity pre-quarterfinal clash with second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand could await.

The biggest talking point of the draw, however, is Ayush Shetty's opening-round showdown with Shi Yuqi. Although the Indian youngster has lost all three previous meetings against the Chinese star, he has pushed the reigning champion hard in recent encounters, raising hopes of a possible upset.

India's top men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded fifth, received a first-round bye and will begin against either Scotland's Alexander Dunn-Adam Pringle or Thailand's Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Worrapol Thongsa-Nga. Their first major challenge is expected against the Indonesian duo of Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin.

Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand described the overall draw as favourable despite Ayush's difficult opener. He believes facing Shi Yuqi in the opening round could work in the youngster's favour, saying an upset would significantly open up the draw.

Gopichand also backed Lakshya to make a deep run, describing him as a far more mature and complete player than when he won his first World Championships medal in 2021. He added that the men's singles field is more open than in previous editions, giving both Lakshya and Ayush realistic hopes of reaching the podium.

Elsewhere, Unnati Hooda opens against Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar, while India's doubles combinations across men's, women's and mixed events will also look to capitalise on home conditions in what promises to be one of the biggest badminton tournaments ever hosted in the country.