The 2026 BWF World Championships get underway on Monday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, with former world champion PV Sindhu and Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty leading India's campaign. According to the Times of India, the tournament marks the return of the prestigious event to India after a gap of 17 years.
According to the Times of India, India has won at least one medal at every edition of the BWF World Championships since 2011, and the home contingent will be aiming to continue that impressive streak on familiar soil.
Alongside Sindhu and the celebrated men's doubles pair of Satwik and Chirag, Lakshya Sen and rising star Ayush Shetty will also be among the Indian shuttlers looking to make their mark in the men's singles competition.
The return of the World Championships to New Delhi has generated significant excitement among badminton fans across the country.
According to the Times of India, Indian supporters will be hoping that Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya, and Ayush can produce memorable performances and add another successful chapter to India's growing badminton legacy.
The 2026 edition begins with the host nation fielding players across the Round of 64 in multiple categories.
According to the Times of India, one of the day's most anticipated contests involving an Indian player will take place in the evening when Ayush Shetty faces top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China at around 6:10 pm IST.
Ayush heads into the match having lost all three of his previous encounters against the Chinese star, although he has stretched the reigning champion in earlier meetings.
Indians in Action Today – Full Schedule (IST)
Court 1
12:20 pm – Men's Doubles: Hariharan Amsakarunan / M R Arjun vs Scott Guildea / Paul Reynolds (Ireland)
4:30 pm – Women's Doubles: Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand vs Paula Lopez / Lucia Rodriguez (Spain)
5:20 pm – Women's Singles: PV Sindhu (9) vs Sophia Noble (Ireland)
6:10 pm – Men's Singles: Shi Yu Qi (1) (China) vs Ayush Shetty
7:00 pm – Women's Doubles: Nikol Carulla / Carmen Maria Jimenez (Spain) vs Kavipriya Selvam / Simran Singhi
According to the Times of India, with home support behind them and expectations running high, India's top badminton stars will be looking to make a strong start as the World Championships return to New Delhi for the first time since 2009.
The performances on the opening day could set the tone for India's campaign as the nation aims to extend its medal-winning run at one of badminton's biggest events.
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