BWF World C'ships Day 1: Ayush Shetty stuns world No. 1, PV Sindhu wins -Highlights
Catch all the highlights from the first day of the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India, on Monday.
Ayush Shetty and PV Sindhu begin their campaign at 2026 BWF World Chamionships. (Photo Credits: BAI)
India is hosting the BWF World Championships for the first time in 17 years, and it started with the preliminary round at IG Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
There were five Indian matches on the opening day, with PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty, Treesa/Gayatri, Hariharan/Arjun and Kavipriya/ Simran in action.
Five-time world Medalist PV Sindhu began her campaign with a comfortable win against a much lower-ranked Irish shuttler, Sophia Noble, in the women's singles round of 64.
Meanwhile, the most exciting match of the day was between Ayush Shetty and defending champion China's Shi Yu Qi in the men's singles round of 64.
As it happened:
Do tune in tomorrow as there will be six more matches for India, and the former world medalist Lakshya Sen will open his campaign.
Here are the results of the Indian shuttlers on the opening day:
- MD: Hariharan Amsakarunan/ M.R Arjun bt. 21-16, 6-4r, Scott Guildea/Paul Reynolds (IRE)
- WD: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand bt. 21-9, 21-13, Paula López/Lucía Rodríguez (ESP)
- WS: PV Sindhu bt. 21-7, 21-11, Sophia Noble (IRE)
- MS: Ayush Shetty bt. 21-14, 13-21, 21-19, Shi Yuqi (CHN)
- WD: Kaivipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi bt. 22-20, 21-14 Nikol Carulla/Carmen Jiménez (ESP)
Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi claimed India's 5th win of the day, edging past the Spanish pair in the women's doubles first round with a straight-game win.
Final Score: 22-20, 21-14
The Indian duo came from behind to force extra points against the Spanish pair of Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jimenez, who were in a 16-9 lead earlier in the game.
In an exciting 73-minute-long match, Ayush has just delivered one of the biggest wins of his career, knocking down the world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China.
He was looking comfortable in the deciding game with a 17-6 lead but lacked composure under pressure from the quality player. However, he won the final point and clinched the match by 21-19.
Game 3: Ayush Shetty 21-19 Shi Yuqi (CHN)
The youngster registered a brilliant win in the first round of the BWF World Championships, knocking out the reigning world champion Shi Yuqi of China.
Aysuh was 17-6 up in the final game, but then a late surge from the Chinese made the match very interesting; eventually, the youngster prevailed by just 2 points.
This was Ayush's first win over Shi Yuqi in their fourth meeting, also avenging his loss against him at the final of the Asian Championships earlier this year.
Game 3: Ayush Shetty 18-14 Shi Yuqi (CHN)
Game 3: Ayush Shetty 17-11 Shi Yuqi (CHN)
Game 3: Ayush Shetty 17-9 Shi Yuqi (CHN)
He is dominating the world No. 1 Shi Yuqi in the deciding game with his exceptional aggressive play, which is frustrating Shi Yuqi, who is not able to play his game.
Game 3: Ayush Shetty 16-5 Shi Yuqi (CHN)
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