Lakshya Sen Draws Alex Lanier in China Masters Opener

Lakshya Sen will open India’s campaign at the China Masters 2026 against newly crowned world champion Alex Lanier, with the BWF Super 750 tournament scheduled at the Shenzhen Sports Centre Gymnasium from September 1 to 6.

The world No. 13 Indian faces a difficult first-round assignment against France’s Lanier, who arrives in Shenzhen after his title-winning run at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. Lanier became the first Frenchman to win the men’s singles world championship, giving the opening clash added significance for Sen as he returns to competition.

The China Masters offers India’s players a major event ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, running from September 19 to October 4. It also provides the country with another opportunity to seek a first title at a tournament no Indian player has won since its inception in 2005.

Sen faces familiar challenge in Shenzhen

Sen and Lanier have met once before, in the quarter-finals of last year’s Denmark Open. Lanier won that encounter in straight games, leaving Sen with the chance to reverse that result when their China Masters campaigns begin.

Sen is coming off an early exit at the World Championships, where he was beaten by USA player Garret Tan in the second round. His match against Lanier will immediately test India’s men’s singles challenge in a highly competitive draw.

Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth is India’s other entrant in men’s singles. Srikanth finished runner-up at the US Open in June and adds experience to the squad in Shenzhen. Ayush Shetty, who defeated 2025 world champion Shi Yuqi in the opening round of the World Championships, will not compete at the China Masters.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is also absent. India’s women’s singles representation instead rests with Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma and Devika Sihag. Eighteen-year-old Hooda, ranked world No. 25, reached the second round on her World Championships debut before losing a close three-game match to Canada’s Michelle Li.

Tanvi, ranked world No. 26, comes into the event after a breakthrough season in which she won her first BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open. Devika will also take the court after winning the Thailand Masters earlier this year. All three are part of India’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games.

Doubles pairs and Asian Games preparation in focus

World No. 5 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lead India’s doubles entries as the fourth seeds. The pair won the Singapore Badminton Open in May and reached the World Championships quarter-finals in New Delhi. MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan complete India’s men’s doubles representation.

In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will compete alongside Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde. India has no entrants in the women’s doubles draw. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who won a bronze medal at the World Championships in New Delhi, are among the players skipping the tournament.

Eleven members of India’s 20-player Asian Games badminton contingent will be in action in Shenzhen: Sen, Srikanth, Hooda, Tanvi, Devika, Satwiksairaj, Chirag, Arjun, Hariharan, Dhruv and Tanisha. Their performances at the China Masters will provide important competition before the Aichi-Nagoya event.

For Sen, the immediate focus is Lanier and a first chance to overcome the Frenchman after their Denmark Open meeting. For the wider Indian group, the six-day Super 750 tournament brings a valuable international test and the prospect of ending the country’s long wait for a China Masters champion.