BWF Worlds 2025: India’s Medal Hopes Ride on Satwik–Chirag, Sindhu as Lakshya Gets Tough Draw
BWF Worlds draw: Lakshya Sen meets World No. 1, Sindhu eyes sixth medal, Satwik–Chirag India’s big hope.
BWF World Championships 2025 Draw: Lakshya Faces Shi Yu Qi, Sindhu Gets Smooth Start
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Wednesday unveiled the draw for the 2025 World Championships in Paris, with seven Indian players in action. Lakshya Sen faces an uphill battle from the start, while PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty remain India’s strongest medal hopes.
Lakshya Sen Draws Shi Yu Qi in First Round
Lakshya Sen will open against China’s World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi at the Adidas Arena (Aug 25–31). The 2024 Olympic fourth-place finisher returns to the same venue but struggles with inconsistency and confidence. Shi, in contrast, is in dominant form—winning three Super 1000 titles this season and reaching the podium in nearly every event.
Sen hopes to build on his recent Macau Open semifinal finish, but Shi’s precision-driven, defensive game will demand flawless execution.
HS Prannoy Faces Antonsen Challenge
Bronze medallist HS Prannoy returns after battling injuries and illness that derailed his form post-2023. He meets Denmark’s second seed Anders Antonsen, one of the most improved players in world badminton, as Viktor Axelsen remains out with injury.
Satwik–Chirag Lead India’s Medal Charge
India’s top doubles duo, Satwik and Chirag, seeded in the top 10, received a first-round bye and are expected to reach deep into the tournament. They could meet fellow Indians Hariharan Amsakarunan–Ruben Kumar in Round 2 and later face tough opponents such as China’s Liang Wei Keng–Wang Chang and Malaysia’s Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik, who hold an 11-3 head-to-head edge.
Sindhu Eyes Sixth Worlds Medal
PV Sindhu, a five-time Worlds medallist and 2019 champion, begins against Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria, followed by Malaysia’s Letshanaa Karupathevan. Her first real test comes in Round of 16 against China’s World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi, who has been in superb form this year. Sindhu’s big-tournament pedigree keeps Indian hopes alive despite limited success in 2024.
India Looks for a Breakthrough
With Lakshya and Prannoy facing early hurdles, Satwik–Chirag’s form and Sindhu’s experience remain India’s best chance at medals. The Championships will also test whether India can rebound after a disappointing Olympic campaign.
