NEW DELHI: When discussing Indian badminton, prominent names such as PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the renowned men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty often come to mind. However, with the BWF World Championships returning to India for the first time in 17 years, a fresh generation of Indian players is gearing up for a significant challenge. Four players—Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam—are poised to make their inaugural appearances at this prestigious tournament, each following impressive performances on the global stage.
Ayush Shetty’s journey stands out as one of the most remarkable tales in Indian badminton over the last two years. The young shuttler from Karnataka gained recognition by winning a bronze medal at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships, successfully transitioning to senior level play. His breakout moment came in 2025 when he clinched his first BWF World Tour title at the US Open Super 300, defeating Canada’s Brian Yang in straight sets, 21-18, 21-13, in the finals. Earlier this year, Ayush made history at the Badminton Asia Championships by becoming the first Indian men’s singles finalist since 1965, defeating several high-profile players, including former world champion Li Shi Feng, before ultimately earning a silver medal.
At the young age of 17, Unnati Hooda has already made a name for herself as one of India’s most promising badminton talents, preparing for her first BWF World Championships in New Delhi. She garnered national attention in 2022, winning the Odisha Open Super 100 at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest Indian to achieve a BWF 100 World Tour title by defeating compatriot Samiya Imad Farooqui. Following that, Unnati continued to progress steadily, achieving a significant victory at the 2025 China Open Super 1000 against former world champion PV Sindhu. In 2026, she secured another title at the Polish Open, further solidifying her readiness for the upcoming World Championships.
Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam, a rapidly improving women’s doubles pair, have made their mark on the international circuit with consistent performances. Simran, who hails from Mumbai, began her badminton journey under coach Uday Pawar at the Goregaon Sports Club, the same institution that produced World Championships medallist Chirag Shetty. After excelling in junior competitions, she successfully advanced to the senior international arena, where she teamed up with Kavipriya Selvam. Kavipriya, a doubles specialist from Puducherry, emerged through the competitive Tamil Nadu domestic circuit before forming this partnership. Together, they have steadily climbed the international rankings, recently achieving a career-high BWF World Ranking of No. 38. They have participated regularly in BWF Super 300 and Super 500 tournaments and represented India in major continental competitions, including the Badminton Asia Championships. The upcoming BWF World Championships will be a significant milestone for their collaboration.
As the BWF World Championships makes its return to India for the first time since 2009, the attention will understandably focus on established stars. Nevertheless, Ayush, Unnati, Simran, and Kavipriya will be making their debuts at this event, marking a crucial turning point in their careers and the beginning of their journey on the grand stage of badminton.
Source: Times of India
