India’s campaign at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 has suffered a major blow with defending men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty pulling out due to Satwik’s shoulder injury.
The duo, who lifted the title in 2023, had already withdrawn from the Swiss Open and remain sidelined as they recover.
Coach Tan Kim Her confirmed, “Satwik still has some pain, so they won’t be playing this week.” Their absence leaves a significant void, placing the onus on India’s singles stars — Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu — to lead the charge.
Lakshya Sen’s Moment of Opportunity
Lakshya Sen, fresh off his runner‑up finish at the All England Championships, begins his campaign against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. The 24‑year‑old from Almora carries the hopes of ending India’s six‑decade wait for a men’s singles gold — the last coming in 1965 through Dinesh Khanna.
Sindhu, meanwhile, returns after a disrupted European leg, opening against Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching. Her comeback adds depth to India’s women’s singles lineup, which also features Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, and Malvika Bansod.
Other Key Matches
In men’s singles, HS Prannoy returns from injury to face a qualifier, Kidambi Srikanth meets Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, and Ayush Shetty takes on China’s Li Shi Feng.
India’s doubles representation continues through Hariharan Amsakarunan–M R Arjun and Treesa Jolly–Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, among others, though the absence of Satwik‑Chirag remains the biggest talking point.
With the defending champions out, India’s hopes now rest on its singles stars — and for Lakshya Sen, this tournament could be the defining chapter of his career.
