New Delhi [India], August 16 (ANI): Former world champion PV Sindhu and Asian Games gold medallist Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will likely be shouldering the hopes of Indian badminton followers as they appear to construct on the nation’s file of profitable a minimum of one medal at every of the BWF World Championships since 2011 when the 2026 version will get underway on the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium right here on Monday.
The BWF World Championships is returning to Indian shores after a spot of 17 years, and badminton followers could be hoping that the likes of Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag and the lads’s singles duo of Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty may go all the way in which on residence turf and begin one more chapter in India’s badminton historical past, in keeping with a press launch.
Sindhu, essentially the most profitable Indian participant on this planet championships with one gold, two silver and two bronze up to now, is assured of including one other medal to her tally. The ninth seed begins her marketing campaign in opposition to world no. 141 Sofia Nobel of Ireland on Monday within the spherical of 64, and her path to the semi-final appears to be like just like the final version in Paris as she is prone to face Chinese’s third seed Wang Zhi Yi within the pre-quarters with a potential final eight conflict in opposition to sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia.
Sindhu’s final World Championships medal got here in 2019 when she turned the primary Indian to win the coveted title. However, the 31-year-old has discovered her profitable rhythm heading into the match, clinching the Japan Open Super 750 crown in July.
‘This World Championships may be very particular for me as a result of it’s occurring in India. I have never received a medal within the championships for seven years, however my confidence has obtained a lift after the Japan Open win and I’m hopeful of profitable yet one more medal right here,’ stated Sindhu, who watched the 2009 version of the World Championships from the stands in Hyderabad.
While Sindhu will likely be trying to clinch her second crown, defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan will likely be trying to turn into the primary ladies’s singles participant to win 4 gold medals. Only Yamaguchi and Spain’s Carolina Marin have up to now received three titles every on this self-discipline and have performed an essential position in making certain that badminton powerhouse China hasn’t been in a position to get their arms on the ladies’s singles gold medal since 2011.
Apart from Sindhu, all eyes will likely be on the opening-round match between Ayush Shetty and defending champion Shi Yu Qi on Monday. The lanky India shuttler, who received the Asian Championships silver this 12 months, is making his World Championships debut at residence and emphasised that enjoying on acquainted turf was particular.
‘I’d say it’s the largest match I’ve performed up to now. It is a very massive match for everybody, even for the world’s finest gamers. I believe it’s a large stage and it’s occurring in India,’ he stated.
Speaking about his first-round conflict in opposition to Shi and whether or not it was higher to play the Chinese early on, Ayush stated, ‘I believe it’s robust in whichever spherical you’re enjoying Shi Yu Qi. It will likely be a primary match of the match for me as properly and I hope that will probably be nice match,’ stated the 21-year-old, who at the moment has a 0-3 head-to-head file in opposition to the world number one.
Among the opposite Indians, Lakshya will likely be opening his marketing campaign in opposition to Collins Filimon of Austria on Tuesday, whereas Satwik and Chirag have a bye within the opening spherical.
Lakshya, who celebrated his twenty fifth birthday on Sunday, is drawn to face second seed and former champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn within the pre-quarters.
Meanwhile, India’s Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh have been promoted to the combined doubles draw from the combined doubles and can play Turkey’s Emre Sonmez and Yasemen Bektas.
Japan’s Riko Gunji and Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan additionally earned promotion within the ladies’s singles draw after Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min and Spain’s Clara Azurmendi withdrew after the draw was made. (ANI)