Tough Drafts Await Indian Badminton Players at World Championships in Paris
The upcoming Badminton World Championships in Paris, starting August 25, promises an exciting showdown for several Indian players. Here's a roundup of the key players and their potential matches.
Singles
Lakshya Sen
Currently ranked 21st, Lakshya Sen has had a challenging season with lacklustre results and inconsistent performances. His best finish this season is a quarter-final appearance at the All England. In the first round, Sen will face Shi Yu Qi of China, who holds a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head record. Sen's most recent encounter with Shi Yu Qi was at the Indonesia Open in June 2025, where Shi Yu Qi emerged victorious.
HS Prannoy
Prannoy, who is aiming for a second-round clash with world No. 2 Anders Antonsen of Denmark, will face Joakim Oldorff of Finland in the first round.
Doubles
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
India's top men's doubles pair, Rankireddy and Shetty, received a first-round bye. They might face Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in the second round, who currently lead the head-to-head encounters 6-2. Satwiksairaj and Chirag have a commanding 11-3 record against Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik across 14 meetings, including their recent Paris Olympic quarter-finals victory. This season, they have seen steady performances, reaching the semi-finals at the India Open, Singapore Open, and Malaysia Open, alongside quarter-final finishes at the Indonesia Open.
Women's Singles
PV Sindhu
A five-time medallist, PV Sindhu will begin her World Championships campaign against Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria. Sindhu's form is a concern going into the tournament, with her best result this year being a quarter-final appearance at the India Open. She could face world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China in the round of 16.
Sports enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the upcoming matches at the Badminton World Championships in Paris. The health of several Indian players, such as Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu, might significantly impact the outcomes of their matches, with their performance this season being a mixed bag. For instance, Lakshya Sen, currently ranked 21st, faces a tough first-round match against Shi Yu Qi of China, whom he has struggled against in the past. Similarly, PV Sindhu, a five-time medallist, starts her campaign against Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria, but her form this year has raised concerns as she aims to improve her health and fitness to secure wins in health-dependent sports.
