When Garret Tan took a medical timeout leading 17-16 in the decider, it looked like Lakshya Sen would finally get the stroke of luck he so desperately needed.

Instead, the 18-year-old American of Taiwanese descent would jump, smash and punch his way to the biggest win of his career so far. He packed off the home favourite 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 in an hour and 13 minutes in the second round of the badminton World championships here on Wednesday.

Having scraped through his opening-round match, Lakshya, ranked 14th and a bronze medallist at the global tournament, was expected to have an easy outing against the World No. 92 Tan.

Disappointment

But, on a day Ayush Shetty had an easier time than in his sparring sessions and P.V. Sindhu broke little sweat to reach the pre-quarterfinals, Lakshya floundered against an opponent who did not allow him any space or momentum.

The contest was as much in the mind as on the court. Tan, a former junior World No. 1, packed power in his overhead and cross-court smashes that often left Lakshya stranded in the middle. He was equally impressive with his drops but the Indian managed to edge ahead by taking the opening game.

Leading 11-8 in the second game, Tan capitalised on his opponent’s mistakes at the net with high lifts to the back of the court. Every time Lakshya looked to get a foothold, his rival unleashed smashing winners.

Tan raced to a 11-4 advantage in the decider and it looked all over for Lakshya before the Indian rode on crowd support to come within striking distance. But the American’s timeout followed by a series of jump smashes ended hopes.

Ayush, meanwhile, wrapped up his match against Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10 in 25 minutes and Sindhu took 10 more minutes to beat Canadian Wen Yu Zhang 21-16, 21-17 to set up a clash with Wang Zhiyi (China). Unnati Hooda, however, went down fighting 21-11, 9-21, 21-23 to 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada.

Bringing cheer

In doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced with a 21-11, 21-11 win against Lok Chong Leong and Weng Chi Ng of Macau. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty got a walkover after the Scottish pair of Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle withdrew following Dunn’s injury.

Important results:

Men: Loh Kean Yew (Sin) bt Cheuk Yiu Lee (Hkg) 15-21, 21-17, 21-15; Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) bt Giovanni Toti (Ita) 21-12, 21-11; Jonatan Christie (Ina) bt Jia Heng Teh (Sin) 19-21, 21-19, 21-11; Rasmus Gemke (Den) bt Chun-Yi Lin (Tpe) 13-21, 21-17, 21-11; Li Shifeng (Chn) bt Jun Hao Leong (Mas) 21-19, 21-19; Garret Tan (USA) bt Lakshya Sen 19-21, 21-19, 21-17; Ayush Shetty bt Dumindu Abeywickrama (SL) 21-8, 21-10. Doubles: Fajar Alfian & Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (Ina) bt Eloi Adam & Leo Rossi (Fra) 21-14, 21-13; Kang Min Hyuk & Ki Dong Ju (Kor) bt Hariharan Amsakarunan & M.R. Arjun 21-17, 21-14; Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty w/o Alexander Dunn & Adam Pringle (Sco).

Women: An Se-young (Kor) bt Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan (Ina) 21-15, 21-11; Michelle Li (Can) bt Unnati Hooda 11-21, 21-9, 23-21; P.V. Sindhu bt Wen Yu Zhang (Can) 21-16, 21-17. Doubles: Pearly Tan & Thinaah Muralitharan (Mas) bt Bengisu Ercetin & Nazlican Inci (Tur) 21-16, 21-13.

Mixed doubles: Dhruv Kapila & Tanisha Crasto bt Lok Chong Leong & Weng Chi Ng (Mac) 21-11, 21-11.

Ayush Shetty, ahead of his badminton World championships debut against defending champion and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi, had assured: “Tomorrow is a new day, and it will be a different game.”

The youngster made good on his promise, sending the Chinese star packing on Monday for the biggest upset of the day and perhaps the entire tournament. He won 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in 73 minutes despite a late surge from Shi that almost derailed his dream start.

With Ayush leading 17-6 in the decider, the match looked all wrapped up. But Shi stepped up, produced a few impeccable smashes that landed on the line and came up with delectable drops to make it 19-20.

For all the drama, the end was marked by the softest of returns to the back of the court, leaving Shi stranded at the net. The Indian, drained to even celebrate, sported only a slight smile.

Having lost the three previous meetings, including the Asia Championships final in April, Ayush was clearly prepared for Shi.

He started aggressively and did not allow his more fancied opponent to control the momentum.

The 21-year-old took an early lead, a sequence that included the longest rally of the match (45 shots) at 8-5. Shi kept hitting wide and over even as Ayush dived all over the court, fighting for every point. Taking full advantage of his height, the Indian mixed his jump smashes with soft net play.

But to Shi’s credit, he gradually grew into the match, but Ayush was never overwhelmed.

With Shi and his coach indulging in animated discussions during every break, the Chinese was not in full control of either his game or emotions. Despite an attempted comeback, he eventually bowed out.

Ayush’s win was the highlight of the Indian challenge on a day when the rest of the home hopefuls, including P.V. Sindhu, breezed through to the next round. Sindhu went past Ireland’s Sophia Noble 21-7, 21-11.

In doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand took just over half an hour for a 21-9, 21-13 win over Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez of Spain while Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi beat another Spanish pair, Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez, 22-20, 21-14.

Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun were leading 21-16, 6-4 when their Irish opponents Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds conceded.

Important results: Men: Ayush Shetty bt Shi Yuqi (Chn) 21-14, 13-21, 21-19; Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) bt Clarence Villaflor (Phi) 21-12, 21-12; Toma Junior Popov (Fra) bt Dominik Kwinta (Pol) 21-19, 21-13; Anders Antonsen (Den) bt Dicky Dwi Pangestu (Aze) 21-19, 21-17. Doubles: Hariharan Amsakarunan & M.R. Arjun bt Scott Guildea & Paul Reynolds (Ire) 21-16, 6-4 ret.

Women: P.V. Sindhu bt Sophia Noble (Ire) 21-7, 21-11; Wang Zhi Yi (Chn) bt Beiwan Zhang (USA) 21-12, 21-13; An Se-young (Kor) bt Kaloyana Nalbantova (Bul) 21-14, 21-13; Mia Blichfeldt (Den) bt Keisha Fatimah Azzahra (Aze) 21-18, 21-4. Doubles: Treesa Jolly & Gayatri Gopichand bt Paula Lopez & Lucia Rodriguez (Esp) 21-9, 21-13; Kavipriya Selvam & Simran Singhi bt Nikol Carulla & Carmen Maria Jimenez (Esp) 22-20, 21-14.

Badminton Association of India copped brickbats aplenty earlier this year after the Indian Open at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi was marred by monkey intrusions, bird-related disruptions, issues with ageing infrastructure, subpar spectator facilities, and the capital’s infamous pollution.

The venue, which was originally built for the 1982 Asian Games and later renovated for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will now open its doors again to the World championships, starting Monday, and organisers will hope to make headlines for the right reasons this time, ensuring that nothing but the sport takes centre stage.

The opportunity is doubly significant given India is set to host the next Commonwealth Games and the nation’s ambitious bid for the 2036 Olympics.

“Beyond the performance of our players, as an organiser, we want to show the world that we can host any tournament. They’re trying to bring badminton back to the Commonwealth Games, and we’re also looking at the Olympics. The government is supporting all our efforts, and I’d say this could be one of the best World championships ever,” BAI general secretary Sanjay Mishra told The Hindu.

“The main problems at the Indian Open were the pigeons and monkeys. It was also very cold back then, but none of that is going to be an issue this time around.”

That pursuit has drawn some interesting ideas, including enlisting the services of trained langur-mimicry artists, whose videos have gone viral on social media.

“You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort. Our solutions may be uniquely Indian, but so are our warmth, our spirit and our hospitality,” P.V. Sindhu posted on X.

New seating, fresh wooden flooring for the courts, a modern lighting system and a waterproofed roof are the improvements that have slipped under the radar in the meantime. Sanjay revealed that BAI is working with a budget of around ₹25 crore for the tournament, with the Sports Authority of India undertaking the renovation work thus far.

“What would success at this tournament for us look like? Very simple. If there are no complaints on all fronts, unlike the Indian Open,” he said, before adding, “Besides medals for our players!”

​P. Gopi Chand is one of those rare athletes whose coaching legacy has eclipsed their playing career.

A former All England champion, he has been instrumental in establishing a system that produced India’s modern badminton stars, including Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu.

A few years after his now-renowned academy opened its doors, India hosted the World championships for the first time, in his backyard — Hyderabad, in 2009. India was just one of many countries taking part that year, still finding its feet on badminton’s biggest individual stage.

Seventeen years on, the tournament returns to Indian soil, with New Delhi playing host this time.

In those years, the country has bagged 15 medals at the Worlds, including Sindhu’s historic gold in 2019.

Ahead of the showpiece that gets underway on Monday, a conversation with Gopi Chand kept circling back to a question he has fielded for years, in one form or another: how do you measure today’s generation against his own? His answer was unambiguous: you don’t.

“I think it would be very unfair to compare or even think of comparisons. Today’s challenges are today’s, and today’s opportunities are today’s. Back in the day, our aspirations and our outlook were limited. Today, the kids are a lot more aware and their horizons are much bigger. They step in with an ‘I want to be a World champion’ kind of attitude,” he told The Hindu.

For Gopi Chand, it’s a shift shaped as much by opportunity as by ambition.

“Back in the day, we wanted to play well, avoid injuries and get a job. That is all we thought about.” That is not the case today. Across generations, there are very different mindsets and aspirations.”

For the 52-year-old, that revelation has also been personal. His daughter, Gayatri, has carved out her own career — and he was careful to draw a line between his achievements and hers.

“She’s done well. She’s a (double) Commonwealth Games medallist, got to two All England semifinals and is the highest-ranked women’s doubles player the country has ever produced. Forget about what I have done. As a parent, that makes me happy and proud. I’m rejoicing at what she’s doing and I don’t want my All England (triumph) to overshadow the phenomenal job she is doing.”

For all the generational gaps he pointed to, Gopi Chand was clear about where Indian badminton goes from here.

“I’m looking forward to the next generation of champions. And India hosting the World championships again should catapult that jump and there’s a huge opportunity for us to propel further”.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was on Saturday (February 28, 2026) left stranded at Dubai airport en route to the prestigious All England Open badminton tournament, after flight operations were suspended owing to escalation of tensions in the West Asia.

The tournament is scheduled to start from next Tuesday (March 3, 2026).

Sindhu took to Instagram and posted a video showing a crowded airport with a caption: “All flights suspended until further notice.” Later, the Indian superstar shuttler said she was safe but stuck with her team. She added that the speed at which the tensions have escalated is “terrifying”.

“It’s hard to process what’s unfolding right now. Hearing the interceptions overhead and seeing how quickly everything has escalated is honestly terrifying,” Sindhu wrote on ‘X’.

“So many disturbing videos are coming to light, and this is sadly the reality of what is happening. Dubai is a city I deeply love, a place that has always felt safe and full of life, which makes this moment even harder to comprehend.

“To everyone who has been messaging and checking in, thank you, it truly means a lot. I am safe right now, stuck here with my team, and we are doing okay as the situation around the war with Iran continues to evolve,” she added.

Sindhu said that airports are chaotic with many families “stranded and waiting”.

“Airports are chaotic, with many families stranded and waiting, all of us just hoping we get past this soon. I’m sure the authorities are doing everything in their power, and like everyone here, we’re holding on to patience and hope,” she wrote.

“Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life really is. Praying for safety and peace for everyone affected.” The U.S. and Israel launched a major offensive on Iran on Saturday.

The military strikes have led to a closure of air space in the Gulf region and caused disruption to several flights, including Emirates and Air India.

Air India cancelled all its flight to and from the Gulf region, mainly to Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv, Israel, the airline said in a statement posted on ‘X’.

The Dubai airport too suspended all operations indefinitely due to airspace closures following missile strikes involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was on Saturday (February 28, 2026) left stranded at Dubai airport en route to the prestigious All England Open badminton tournament, after flight operations were suspended owing to escalation of tensions in the West Asia.

The tournament is scheduled to start from next Tuesday (March 3, 2026).

Sindhu took to Instagram and posted a video showing a crowded airport with a caption: “All flights suspended until further notice.” Later, the Indian superstar shuttler said she was safe but stuck with her team. She added that the speed at which the tensions have escalated is “terrifying”.

“It’s hard to process what’s unfolding right now. Hearing the interceptions overhead and seeing how quickly everything has escalated is honestly terrifying,” Sindhu wrote on ‘X’.

“So many disturbing videos are coming to light, and this is sadly the reality of what is happening. Dubai is a city I deeply love, a place that has always felt safe and full of life, which makes this moment even harder to comprehend.

“To everyone who has been messaging and checking in, thank you, it truly means a lot. I am safe right now, stuck here with my team, and we are doing okay as the situation around the war with Iran continues to evolve,” she added.

Sindhu said that airports are chaotic with many families “stranded and waiting”.

“Airports are chaotic, with many families stranded and waiting, all of us just hoping we get past this soon. I’m sure the authorities are doing everything in their power, and like everyone here, we’re holding on to patience and hope,” she wrote.

“Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life really is. Praying for safety and peace for everyone affected.” The U.S. and Israel launched a major offensive on Iran on Saturday.

The military strikes have led to a closure of air space in the Gulf region and caused disruption to several flights, including Emirates and Air India.

Air India cancelled all its flight to and from the Gulf region, mainly to Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv, Israel, the airline said in a statement posted on ‘X’.

The Dubai airport too suspended all operations indefinitely due to airspace closures following missile strikes involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.