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India Open 2026 Draw: Lakshya Sen vs Ayush Shetty Headlines Tricky Start for Stars

The draw for the 2026 Yonex-Sunrise India Open presents a challenging path for Indian singles stars, headlined by an all-Indian first-round clash between 2022 champion Lakshya Sen and rising talent Ayush Shetty. Former world champion PV Sindhu faces a tough opener against Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen, who has beaten her in their last two meetings. The tournament, moving to a larger hall within the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, will serve as a test event for the upcoming BWF World Championships. In doubles, former champions Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have a relatively easier start against an American pair.

Key Points: India Open 2026 Draw: Tough Opening Rounds for Indian Badminton Stars

  • Lakshya Sen vs Ayush Shetty all-Indian opener
  • PV Sindhu faces tricky opponent Nguyen
  • Venue shift to test World Championships conditions
  • Tough draws for Srikanth and Prannoy
  • Doubles pairs get relatively easier starts
4 min read

Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2026: Tricky draw for India's singles stars as Lakshya-Ayush face off in opening round

Lakshya Sen faces Ayush Shetty in an all-Indian opener at the India Open 2026. PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and HS Prannoy also get challenging draws.

"Lakshya facing former world junior bronze medallist Ayush Shetty would mean that only three of the four Indian men's singles in fray would have a chance to make it to the second round. - Tournament Release"

New Delhi, January 7

Indian badminton players were handed a tricky draw on the home turf as 2022 champion Lakshya Sen was pitted in an all-Indian battle against the up-and-coming Ayush Shetty, according to a release.

Former world champion PV Sindhu will face Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in the opening round of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750 badminton tournament to be played at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here from January 13-18.

The India Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the HSBC BWF World Tour, will be moving from the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium to a much bigger multi-purpose hall within the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex. The players will also get to understand and test the conditions as this will also be the venue for the BWF World Championships to be held in August later this year.

And if the Indian contingent were hoping for a slightly easier opening round, then they were clearly not granted that wish.

From the Indian perspective, Lakshya facing former world junior bronze medallist Ayush Shetty would mean that only three of the four Indian men's singles in fray would have a chance to make it to the second round. And whoever manages to go through in this all-Indian clash is likely to face fourth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei or Kenta Nishimoto of Japan.Among the other Indian singles players, former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth will be up against 2024 Taipei's Thomas Cup bronze medal winning team member and world no. 12 Lin Chun-Yi with a possible second round clash against Christo Popov, who created history last month by becoming the first French player to win the BWF World Tour Finals men's singles title.

H S Prannoy, who got into the main draw after the withdrawal of Denmark's Anders Antonsen, will open his campaign against last edition finalist Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong.

In the women's singles, former world champion PV Sindhu will be up against Nguyen, against whom the Indian had lost both their last two encounters.

Nguyen, ranked 22 in the world, is one of the most improved player on the circuit last year and if she manages to get through the Vietnamese, then second seed Wang Zhi Yi or her Chinese teammate Gao Fang Jie awaits her in the second round.

Malvika Bansod, returning after a long injury break and playing in the tournament with her protected ranking, will face Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei in the opening round.

In the doubles category, former champions Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have been handed a relatively easy opener against the USA's Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith.

Their first real test may come in the quarter-finals, where they could meet China's eighth seeds Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi.

Two-time All-England semifinalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will be up against Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai of Thailand with a possible second round against Chinese seventh seeds Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min.

In the other interesting opening round clash, top seed An Se Young will face former world champion Nozomi Okuhara while third seed Akane Yamaguchi will be up against compatriot Riko Gunji.

First round opponents of Indian players

Men's singles:

2022 winner Lakshya Sen vs Ayush ShettyKidambi Srikanth vs Lin Chun-Yi (TPE) no 12 part of 2024 Thomas cup bronze winning teamHS Prannoy vs Lee Cheuk Yiu (HKG) no 16 last edition finalist

Women's singles

Malvika Bansod vs Pai Yu Po (TPE)PV Sindhu vs Thuy Linh Nguyen (VIE) 2-2 has lost both the matches in 2025

Men's doubles

Hariharan Amsakarunan/MR Arjun vs Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi (MAS)Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy vs Chen Zhi Yi/Presley Smith (USA)

Women's doubles

Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand vs Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn/Sukitta Suwachai (THA)Shruti Mishra/Priya Konjengbam vs Lui Lok Lok/Tsang Hiu Yan (HKG)Rutuparna Panda/Swetparna Panda vs Nanako Hara/Riko Kiyose (JPN)Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi vs 2-Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (MAS)Gayatri Rawat/Mansa Rawat vs 4-Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian (CHN)

Mixed Doubles

Rohan Kapoor/G Ruthvika Shivani vs Marvin Seidel/Thuc Phuong Nguyen (GER)Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh vs Yuichi Shimogami/Sayaka Hobara (JPN)Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto vs Pakkapon Teeraratsakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA)Dhruv Rawat/Maneesha K vs Hiroki Midorikawa/ Nami Matsuyama (JPN).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Sindhu's match against Nguyen is the one to watch. She's lost the last two, so she'll be extra motivated. Playing at home in the new stadium should give her the edge. Let's go, Champ! 💪
A
Aman W
Good to see the tournament moving to a bigger hall. It's about time we had world-class infrastructure for our home event. This will be great prep for the World Championships later this year. Exciting times for Indian badminton!
S
Sarah B
As a badminton fan visiting from the US, I'm really looking forward to this! The draw looks stacked. Hoping Satwik and Chirag have a deep run. Their energy is incredible.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I wish the BWF would look at the draw process. Having two top Indians face each other in R1 at their home Super 750 feels unfair to the players and the local fans. We want to see them go deep.
M
Meera T
All the best to Malvika Bansod on her comeback! Injuries are so tough. Hope she finds her rhythm. And Treesa-Gayatri have a good chance to make a mark in the women's doubles. Let's fill the stadium and support them all! 🥳

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