India has five entries in the last 16 of the World Championships. PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, and Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto are all through to the pre-quarter-finals in New Delhi.
It was also the day India lost the man most people expected to carry the men’s singles.
Who is through
| Player / pair | Round of 32 result | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ayush Shetty | Beat Dumindu Abeywickrama (SRI) | 21-8, 21-10 in 26 minutes |
| PV Sindhu (9) | Beat Wen Yu Zhang (CAN) | 21-16, 21-17 in 35 minutes |
| Satwik / Chirag (5) | Walkover — Dunn / Pringle (SCO) withdrew | w/o |
| Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand | Beat the 16th seeds Lam / Lee (USA) on day 2 | 21-15, 21-12 |
| Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto (15) | Advanced in mixed doubles | — |
Shetty’s 26 minutes is the number worth sitting with. Two days after beating the world number one, he took apart the world No.87 without ever letting the match start. That is the difference between a good day and a player in form.
Who is out
Lakshya Sen, seeded 14 and India’s highest-ranked man, lost to 18-year-old American Garret Tan, ranked 92nd in the world — the story of the day in its own right. Unnati Hooda also went out, losing 21-11, 9-21, 23-21 to Canada’s Michelle Li after leading in the decider — the kind of defeat that takes longer to get over than a straightforward one.
What happens next
Shetty met Alwi Farhan of Indonesia, seeded 11, in the round of 16 and lost 21-19, 21-11. Shetty had beaten Farhan at the China Open this season, but Farhan led their head-to-head going in and now leads 5-3 — an earlier version of this line wrongly said Shetty held the winning record.
Sindhu, seeded 9, has come through two rounds for the loss of 61 points across four games. She has not looked troubled yet, which is not the same as having been tested. Satwik and Chirag have effectively had a free round.
Common questions
How many Indians are in the last 16 at the 2026 World Championships?
Five entries: PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, and Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto.
Is Lakshya Sen still in the tournament?
No. He lost in the round of 32 to 18-year-old American Garret Tan, ranked 92nd in the world.
Who does Ayush Shetty play in the round of 16?
He played Alwi Farhan of Indonesia, the 11th seed, on 20 August and lost 21-19, 21-11. Shetty beat Farhan at the China Open this season, but Farhan leads their head-to-head 5-3.
For how Shetty’s week started, read his win over Shi Yuqi, and the full schedule and squad guide for the rest of the week.
Kreeda is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Badminton World Federation. Results as reported on 19 August 2026.
