PV Sindhu among four seeded Indian entries at BWF World Championships 2026
PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen are the lone seeded entries in singles as India look to make a mark at the home World Championships, starting August 17 in New Delhi. Shi Yuqi of China and An Se Young of Korea are the top seeds in singles at the world meet.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has been handed the ninth seeding in women's singles, while the former Asian Games gold medal-winning pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will start as fifth seeds in men's doubles for the upcoming BWF World Championships, scheduled to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium from August 17 to 23.
India will field two entries across all five categories at the marquee event on home soil, securing a seeded spot in four of them. Former World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen is seeded 14th in men's singles, while the mixed doubles tandem of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto has been handed the 15th seed.
Qualification for the tournament was determined by the BWF World Rankings as of April 28, 2026, whereas the final seedings were finalised based on the world rankings released on July 28.
RECENT FORM OF INDIAN STARS
PV Sindhu (Women's Singles - Seed 9)
Sindhu enters her home World Championships on the back of a significant resurgence. The former world champion snapped a near three-year title drought on the BWF World Tour by lifting the Japan Open Super 750 crown, beating top-ranked opposition including defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi en route. Sitting just outside the top eight seeds means Sindhu could face high-ranked opposition as early as the Round of 16.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (Men's Doubles - Seed 5)
India's premier men's doubles pairing captured the Singapore Open Super 750 title earlier this season, ending a two-year tour drought. However, their preparations have been tempered by fitness management after Satwik suffered a recurring shoulder strain during the summer tour, forcing a mid-match retirement at the Japan Open. The pair subsequently withdrew from the China Open to focus entirely on rehabilitation ahead of the marquee event in New Delhi.
Lakshya Sen (Men's Singles - Seed 14)
Lakshya Sen's season highlight came at the All England Open Championships, where he mounted an impressive run to the final, eliminating world No. 1 Shi Yuqi along the way. Although his subsequent BWF tour results have been mixed, his 14th seeding guarantees protection from top-tier opponents in the opening rounds.
Dhruv Kapila & Tanisha Crasto (Mixed Doubles - Seed 15)
Kapila and Crasto have established themselves as India's leading mixed doubles entry, backed by consistent quarter-final and semi-final appearances on the World Tour, including a deep run at the Singapore Open. Their top-16 seeding ensures a favorable early path in the draw.
WHO ARE THE TOP SEEDS?
Reigning world champion Shi Yuqi (China) takes the top seed.
Women's Singles: World No. 1 An Se-young (South Korea) leads the seedings, followed by defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) as second seed, and China's Wang Zhi Yi and Chen Yufei as third and fourth seeds respectively.
Doubles Top Seeds: South Korea's Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae top the men's doubles draw.
China holds top billing in both women's doubles (Liu Sheng Shu & Tan Ning) and mixed doubles (Feng Yan Zhe & Huang Dong Ping).
The official draw will take place in New Delhi on Wednesday. Final seedings remain subject to minor adjustments should any seeded player or pair withdraw prior to the draw.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has been handed the ninth seeding in women's singles, while the former Asian Games gold medal-winning pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will start as fifth seeds in men's doubles for the upcoming BWF World Championships, scheduled to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium from August 17 to 23.
India will field two entries across all five categories at the marquee event on home soil, securing a seeded spot in four of them. Former World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen is seeded 14th in men's singles, while the mixed doubles tandem of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto has been handed the 15th seed.
Qualification for the tournament was determined by the BWF World Rankings as of April 28, 2026, whereas the final seedings were finalised based on the world rankings released on July 28.
RECENT FORM OF INDIAN STARS
PV Sindhu (Women's Singles - Seed 9)
Sindhu enters her home World Championships on the back of a significant resurgence. The former world champion snapped a near three-year title drought on the BWF World Tour by lifting the Japan Open Super 750 crown, beating top-ranked opposition including defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi en route. Sitting just outside the top eight seeds means Sindhu could face high-ranked opposition as early as the Round of 16.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (Men's Doubles - Seed 5)
India's premier men's doubles pairing captured the Singapore Open Super 750 title earlier this season, ending a two-year tour drought. However, their preparations have been tempered by fitness management after Satwik suffered a recurring shoulder strain during the summer tour, forcing a mid-match retirement at the Japan Open. The pair subsequently withdrew from the China Open to focus entirely on rehabilitation ahead of the marquee event in New Delhi.
Lakshya Sen (Men's Singles - Seed 14)
Lakshya Sen's season highlight came at the All England Open Championships, where he mounted an impressive run to the final, eliminating world No. 1 Shi Yuqi along the way. Although his subsequent BWF tour results have been mixed, his 14th seeding guarantees protection from top-tier opponents in the opening rounds.
Dhruv Kapila & Tanisha Crasto (Mixed Doubles - Seed 15)
Kapila and Crasto have established themselves as India's leading mixed doubles entry, backed by consistent quarter-final and semi-final appearances on the World Tour, including a deep run at the Singapore Open. Their top-16 seeding ensures a favorable early path in the draw.
WHO ARE THE TOP SEEDS?
Reigning world champion Shi Yuqi (China) takes the top seed.
Women's Singles: World No. 1 An Se-young (South Korea) leads the seedings, followed by defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) as second seed, and China's Wang Zhi Yi and Chen Yufei as third and fourth seeds respectively.
Doubles Top Seeds: South Korea's Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae top the men's doubles draw.
China holds top billing in both women's doubles (Liu Sheng Shu & Tan Ning) and mixed doubles (Feng Yan Zhe & Huang Dong Ping).
The official draw will take place in New Delhi on Wednesday. Final seedings remain subject to minor adjustments should any seeded player or pair withdraw prior to the draw.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has been handed the ninth seeding in women's singles, while the former Asian Games gold medal-winning pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will start as fifth seeds in men's doubles for the upcoming BWF World Championships, scheduled to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium from August 17 to 23.
India will field two entries across all five categories at the marquee event on home soil, securing a seeded spot in four of them. Former World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen is seeded 14th in men's singles, while the mixed doubles tandem of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto has been handed the 15th seed.
Qualification for the tournament was determined by the BWF World Rankings as of April 28, 2026, whereas the final seedings were finalised based on the world rankings released on July 28.
RECENT FORM OF INDIAN STARS
PV Sindhu (Women's Singles - Seed 9)
Sindhu enters her home World Championships on the back of a significant resurgence. The former world champion snapped a near three-year title drought on the BWF World Tour by lifting the Japan Open Super 750 crown, beating top-ranked opposition including defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi en route. Sitting just outside the top eight seeds means Sindhu could face high-ranked opposition as early as the Round of 16.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (Men's Doubles - Seed 5)
India's premier men's doubles pairing captured the Singapore Open Super 750 title earlier this season, ending a two-year tour drought. However, their preparations have been tempered by fitness management after Satwik suffered a recurring shoulder strain during the summer tour, forcing a mid-match retirement at the Japan Open. The pair subsequently withdrew from the China Open to focus entirely on rehabilitation ahead of the marquee event in New Delhi.
Lakshya Sen (Men's Singles - Seed 14)
Lakshya Sen's season highlight came at the All England Open Championships, where he mounted an impressive run to the final, eliminating world No. 1 Shi Yuqi along the way. Although his subsequent BWF tour results have been mixed, his 14th seeding guarantees protection from top-tier opponents in the opening rounds.
Dhruv Kapila & Tanisha Crasto (Mixed Doubles - Seed 15)
Kapila and Crasto have established themselves as India's leading mixed doubles entry, backed by consistent quarter-final and semi-final appearances on the World Tour, including a deep run at the Singapore Open. Their top-16 seeding ensures a favorable early path in the draw.
WHO ARE THE TOP SEEDS?
Reigning world champion Shi Yuqi (China) takes the top seed.
Women's Singles: World No. 1 An Se-young (South Korea) leads the seedings, followed by defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) as second seed, and China's Wang Zhi Yi and Chen Yufei as third and fourth seeds respectively.
Doubles Top Seeds: South Korea's Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae top the men's doubles draw.
China holds top billing in both women's doubles (Liu Sheng Shu & Tan Ning) and mixed doubles (Feng Yan Zhe & Huang Dong Ping).
The official draw will take place in New Delhi on Wednesday. Final seedings remain subject to minor adjustments should any seeded player or pair withdraw prior to the draw.
