India's singles campaign ends at BWF World Championships

India's singles campaign at the 2026 BWF World Championships concluded on a disappointing note Thursday, with star shuttler PV Sindhu and rising talent Ayush Shetty both exiting in the prequarterfinals at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. However, the nation's hopes in the doubles events remain strong, with both the men's and women's pairs advancing to the quarterfinals.

Sindhu, a five-time World Championships medallist, was eliminated after a hard-fought three-game loss to China's third seed Wang Zhi Yi. The 88-minute match ended 11-21, 21-15, 17-21. Wang, who was visibly struggling with severe cramps in both legs during the contest, received on-court treatment before returning to secure the victory. The defeat ended Sindhu's perfect 8-0 record against Chinese opponents at the World Championships and her aspirations for an unprecedented sixth medal at the event. Sindhu noted afterward that a little more patience would have helped her win the match.

In the men's singles, 21-year-old Ayush Shetty, who had stunned defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi in the opening round, was beaten in straight games by Indonesia's 11th seed Alwi Farhan. Shetty lost 19-21,...