Former champion PV Sindhu and giant-killer Ayush Shetty advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026, while Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda were eliminated in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Ninth seed Sindhu defeated Canada’s Zhang Wen Yu 21-16, 21-17, setting up a Round of 16 clash against China’s third seed Wang Zi Yi. Ayush comfortably beat Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10 in 26 minutes and will next face Indonesia’s 11th seed Alwi Farhan. Lakshya, seeded 14th, lost a hard-fought battle to 18-year-old American Gareth Tan 19-21, 21-19, 21-17. Unnati missed two match points against Canada’s Michelle Li before losing 11-21, 21-9, 23-21.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also advanced after receiving a walkover.