India's top badminton stars, including former champion P. V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, are gearing up for a stern test at the BWF World Championships, which kick off in Paris tomorrow. The Indian contingent faces a challenging path, with tough opening draws and recent struggles with form and injuries setting a dramatic backdrop for the premier tournament. Sen faces a particularly daunting opener against the in-form world number one, Shi Yu Qi of China.
In the men's singles, India's hopes will be pinned on former bronze medallists Lakshya Sen (2021) and H. S. Prannoy (2023). Sen has had a difficult season, with a quarter-final finish at the All England Open being his best result so far. He'll need to be at his absolute best to overcome Shi Yu Qi, who has already beaten him this year. Prannoy, meanwhile, has a potential second-round showdown with world number two Anders Antonsen of Denmark looming large.
P. V. Sindhu, India’s most decorated player at the event with five medals including a 2019 gold, will be looking to shake off a poor run of form. She begins her campaign against Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova but could face a major hurdle as early as the round of 16, with a potential clash against world number two Wang Zhi Yi of China. A strong performance in Paris will be crucial for the two-time Olympic medallist to regain her momentum.
The strongest title contenders for India are the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The Asian Games champions, who won a bronze in 2022, have been consistent this year with several semi-final appearances. Seeded ninth, they have a first-round bye but face a tricky path ahead, with potential clashes against formidable Chinese and Malaysian pairs who have historically had the upper hand in their head-to-head encounters.
Rounding out the Indian challenge are several other promising pairs. In mixed doubles, the 16th-seeded duo of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will look to make a deep run after receiving a first-round bye. The women's doubles will feature pairs like Priya Konjengbam–Shruti Mishra and the Panda sisters (Rutuparna and Swetaparna), all hoping to cause some upsets and make their mark on the world stage.
