BWF Worlds 2026: When and Where to Watch PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty and Other Indians on Day 1

The BWF World Championships will begin in grand fashion in New Delhi on Monday, August 17

With several top players, including defending men’s singles champion Shi Yuqi and women’s singles world No. 1 An Se Young, set to take the court. Home favourite and former champion PV Sindhu will also begin her campaign on the opening day.

India is hosting the prestigious badminton World Championships for the first time in 17 years, with a packed schedule of matches awaiting fans at the start of the tournament.

The action will begin at 9 am on Monday, with Star Sports broadcasting the matches on television and JioHotstar providing live streaming in India.

PV Sindhu Begins World Championships Campaign

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who won the women’s singles world title in 2019, will face Ireland’s Sophia Noble, ranked 141st in the world, in her opening-round match.

Sindhu is chasing a record sixth World Championships medal in women’s singles. She is currently level with Chinese legend Zhang Ning with five medals.

The Indian star faces a challenging route to the latter stages. A potential third-round meeting with third seed Wang Zhi Yi could await her, while Olympic champion An Se Young could be a possible semifinal opponent.

An, one of the leading contenders for the title in Delhi, will begin against Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova, ranked 40th in the world.

Ayush Shetty Faces Defending Champion Shi Yuqi

One of the most anticipated matches of Day 1 will feature India’s Ayush Shetty against defending champion Shi Yuqi.

The two have met three times previously, with Shetty yet to register a win against the Chinese star. However, the young Indian will enter the contest with confidence after reaching the final of the Badminton Asia Championships earlier this year.

Shetty acknowledged the challenge ahead but said he is physically stronger and better prepared after recovering from injury issues.

The Indian shuttler trained in Delhi on Saturday alongside Sindhu, with India’s singles coach Irwansyah closely monitoring their preparations.

Indian Doubles Teams Also in Action

India’s Day 1 campaign will begin with Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun, the 24th-ranked men’s doubles pair, taking on Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds of Ireland, ranked 102nd.

In women’s doubles, Tanisha Crasto and Gayatri Gopichand will face Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez in the afternoon session.

Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singh, ranked 42nd, will also begin their women’s doubles campaign against Spain’s Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jimenez.

Interestingly, all Indian players competing on the opening day have been scheduled to play their matches on Court 1.

Other Key Matches on Day 1

Fifth seed Han Yue will face experienced Scottish shuttler Kirsty Gilmour in women’s singles. Gilmour has previously won a silver and bronze medal at the World Championships.

In men’s singles, 15th seed Toma Junior Popov will take on Poland’s Dominik Kwinta. Popov will later partner his brother Christo in men’s doubles against Japan’s Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami.

India’s other major names, including Lakshya Sen and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, will begin their campaigns on Tuesday.

Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthivka Shivani will also start their mixed doubles campaign on the second day, while late entrants Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh will make their women’s doubles debut on Tuesday.

With several Indian players taking the court on Day 1 and marquee clashes involving Shi Yuqi and An Se Young, the opening day promises plenty of action for badminton fans in the host nation.