Indian Badminton Stars to Watch at the 2026 BWF World Championships

India returns to the BWF World Championship stage after a 17‑year hiatus, and the roster boasts several athletes poised to make history.

**Men’s Singles** – Lakshya Sen, a rising talent with recent national titles, will open his campaign on August 17. Ayush Shetty, the young prodigy who earned a place in the top seedings, is slated to challenge China’s world‑champion Shi Yuki in a high‑profile first‑round match.

**Women’s Singles** – Five‑time World Championship medalist PV Sindhu aims for her sixth podium finish, targeting a historic seventh medal. Unnati Hooda, a promising newcomer, will also compete, hoping to secure her first major international breakthrough.

**Men’s Doubles** – The pair of Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with Harirajan Amasakuran and MR Arjun, bring strong synergy and recent Asian circuit success.

**Women’s Doubles** – Tresa Jolly with Gayatri Gopichand Pulela, and Kavipriya Selvam with Simran Singh, form the two Indian women’s doubles entries, each looking to upset established pairings.

**Mixed Doubles** – The duo of Dhruv Kapil and Tanisha Kraast and the cross‑border pair of Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde (Canada) round out India’s representation.

With a balanced mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging talents, the Indian contingent is expected to challenge for medals across all categories.