Sindhu, Shetty advance at BWF World Championships; Sen, Hooda exit

India's badminton contingent at the BWF World Championships 2026 achieved mixed results on Wednesday, with two players progressing to the pre-quarterfinal stage while two others saw their campaigns end in the earlier rounds at the New Delhi venue.

Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion, navigated her way through the competition to secure a spot in the pre-quarterfinals. Her victory continued India's pursuit of medals at the prestigious international tournament. Alongside her, Ayush Shetty also advanced from his respective match, strengthening India's presence in the later stages of the championships.

However, not all Indian players managed to progress. Lakshya Sen, regarded as one of the country's top singles prospects, was unable to overcome his opponent and exited the tournament. Similarly, Unnati Hooda bowed out of the women's singles competition, ending her participation in the championships.

The mixed outcomes reflect the competitive nature of the world championships, where India has traditionally been a strong presence in badminton. The progression of Sindhu and Shetty to the pre-quarterfinals provides hope for additional Indian medal prospects as the tournament progresses toward its later stages in the national capital.