New Delhi: India endured a mixed day at the Badminton World Championships on Wednesday, with PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty advancing to the Round of 16 while Lakshya Sen suffered a surprise second-round exit.
Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu continued her campaign with another composed performance, securing her place in the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian star will now look to build momentum as she targets another deep run at the prestigious tournament.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty also progressed to the Round of 16, continuing an impressive campaign on the world stage. His advancement adds to India’s hopes in the men’s singles draw, with the youngster emerging as one of the country’s promising talents.
However, Lakshya Sen’s tournament came to an unexpected end. The Indian suffered a shock defeat against 18-year-old American Garret Tan in a fiercely contested three-game encounter. Sen was unable to close out the contest despite fighting hard, allowing the young American to claim a notable victory and advance to the next round.
The result marks a disappointing exit for Sen, who had entered the tournament with expectations of making a strong impact in the singles competition.
India also received positive news in men’s doubles, with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressing to the pre-quarterfinals after receiving a walkover in their opening match. The highly rated Indian pair will now prepare for their next challenge as they begin their campaign in the knockout stages.
With Sindhu, Ayush Shetty and the Satwik-Chirag combination still in contention, India’s hopes remain alive across multiple draws. The contrasting results on Wednesday highlighted both the depth of Indian badminton and the unpredictable nature of the World Championships.
Attention will now turn to the Round of 16, where Sindhu and Ayush Shetty will aim to continue their winning runs and strengthen India’s challenge for medals at the tournament.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
