Ayush Shetty Relishes Home Stage at BWF World Championships

Ayush Shetty says the BWF World Championships 2026 will carry extra meaning as India prepares to host the tournament in New Delhi, while Unnati Hooda is set for her first appearance at the event. The championships run from August 17 to 23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena, giving Indian players an opportunity to compete on a major global stage at home.

Shetty faces one of the standout opening-round tests, having been drawn against China’s defending champion and top seed Shi Yuqi. The Asian Championships silver medallist said the scale of the World Championships makes it important for every player, with the Indian setting adding to his anticipation.

“The World Championship is a really big tournament for everyone, even for the world’s best players. It’s a huge stage, and it’s happening in India, so I think it’s more special for me,” Shetty said.

Home tournament brings major opportunities

For Hooda, the New Delhi event is a World Championships debut. She said she is excited to play her first edition of the tournament in front of home fans, while keeping her focus on the immediate challenge in each match.

“It’s my first World Championship, and it’s happening in India, so I’m really excited and looking forward to it. I’m taking it one match at a time,” Hooda said.

Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn also welcomed a return to India for the championships. “This time I come to India again. I’m very happy, and I will try my best in this tournament,” he said.

India last hosted the World Championships in 2009, when Hyderabad staged the event. Since then, Indian badminton has collected multiple Olympic medals and PV Sindhu became the country’s first world champion in 2019. The 2026 edition therefore arrives with India targeting multiple medals on home turf and with several players facing significant early matches across the draws.

Sindhu enters the tournament after winning the Japan Open last month. According to the draw outlook, she will not meet world number one An Se Young of South Korea or defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan before the medal rounds. Sindhu is likely to play China’s third seed Wang Zhi Yi in the pre-quarterfinals, with Indonesia’s sixth seed Putri Wardani a possible opponent in the last eight.

In men’s doubles, Satwik and Chirag are expected to face their first major challenge against Indonesia’s 12th-seeded Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin. The Indonesian pair reached the Indonesia Open final in June.

Indian pairs begin their campaigns

The mixed doubles combination of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, seeded 15th, have an opening-round bye. Their likely first major test comes in the round of 16 against China’s sixth-seeded Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui.

Rohan Kapoor and G Ruthvika Shivani will open against Canada’s Jonathan Lai and Crystal Lai. Should they progress, China’s top-seeded Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping are waiting in the second round.

In women’s doubles, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, two-time All England semi-finalists, meet Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez in the first round. USA 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Lee would be their second-round opponents if the Indian pair advances.

Fellow Indian debutants Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam begin against Spain’s Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jimenez. A first-round win would set up a meeting with five-time European champions Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva.

India’s other men’s doubles pair, MR Arjun and Hariharan, start against Ireland’s Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds. For Shetty, Hooda and the wider Indian contingent, the week in New Delhi offers a home-stage chance to make an impact at badminton’s World Championships.