Sen opens against Shi Yu Qi as India eyes World Championships medals

The 2025 BWF World Championships open in Paris on Monday at the Adidas Arena, with Indian shuttlers hoping to build on a recent tradition of podium finishes at the tournament. The event marks a high-stakes return for Lakshya Sen, who faces top seed Shi Yu Qi in a daunting opening round, while PV Sindhu seeks to recapture form after a lean season. India has sent 13 players aiming for up to nine medals, continuing a medal streak at the Worlds that stretches back to 2011 and remains a cornerstone of the country’s badminton ambitions.

Sen, ranked 21st, carries the weight of expectation into his opener against Shi Yu Qi, the world No. 1 and a three-time Super 1000 champion this season. Their head-to-head record favors Shi, who has had the better of their clashes in 2024 and 2025. Sen acknowledged the challenge but said he would treat the first round like a final, embracing the opportunity to test himself against the sport’s best in a tournament that has long tested India’s resilience and depth. The 24-year-old from Almora is coming off a year where results have been hard-won, though he showed encouragement with a Macau Open semifinal in the lead-up to Paris.