Lakshya Sen led India’s hopes as the BWF World Championships returned to New Delhi, with the 24-year-old targeting a deep run after an inconsistent season that nonetheless included a runners-up finish at the All England Championships.
Home advantage, tougher draws
Sen, the 2021 bronze medallist and ranked world No. 14, said he was determined to make the most of the home crowd as the sport’s flagship individual event got under way. The tournament marks the World Championships’ return to India after 17 years and several Indian entries said venue upgrades have helped prepare athletes for competition.
“My first World Championships was quite a good experience, and even the last few World Championships I played were mixed. Some were good, while some were not as good. I want to do well in the tournament here and, as of now, every round is tough, so I will need to take that approach of focusing on one match at a time. My goal would be to go deep into the tournament.”
Sen’s season has been a study in contrasts: a memorable final appearance at the prestigious All England Championships but otherwise marked by uneven results. Despite that, he remains one of India’s principal medal prospects in the men’s singles draw.
Doubling up on expectations
In men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been fine-tuning their game to cope with one of the tournament’s technical challenges — court drift. The pair, among India’s most accomplished doubles teams, stressed adaptability to court conditions as a priority for the first few days of competition.
Another name to watch is rising shuttler Ayush Shetty, who faces a daunting first-round match against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi. For the younger Shetty, the World Championships represent the biggest stage of his career to date and a stern early test.
Venue improvements, player preparations
Organisers and players noted that conditions at the New Delhi venue have considerably improved since the India Open, promising a smoother experience for participants and spectators. Teams are adjusting to shuttle behaviour, lighting and drift patterns to get ready for the high-intensity matches ahead.
- Lakshya Sen: 2021 World Championships bronze medallist; world No. 14; aims to “go deep” in the tournament.
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty: Focusing on adapting to court drift and conditions in New Delhi.
- Ayush Shetty: Drawn against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi in the opening round — a major career milestone.
| Player/Pair | Notable fact |
|---|---|
| Lakshya Sen | 2021 World Championships bronze; All England runner-up this season |
| Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty | Top Indian men's doubles pair, concentrating on court drift |
| Ayush Shetty | Drawn against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi in first round |
With the draw offering no easy passage for any contender, Indian players will try to harness the support of home fans while negotiating technical adjustments. For Sen, the emphasis is on match-by-match focus; for the doubles pair, it is on reading and countering drift; and for Ayush Shetty, the event is a proving ground against elite opposition.
The championships will test not only form and fitness but also how rapidly players can adapt to the small but decisive variables of top-level badminton in an arena where every gust, light angle and shuttle flight can be pivotal.
As the tournament progresses, Indian interest will centre on whether Sen can convert home advantage into a sustained run, whether Rankireddy and Chirag can translate preparation into podium contention, and whether emerging names like Ayush Shetty can upset higher-ranked opponents on the sport’s premier stage.
