BWF Worlds 2026: Tan Stuns Sen; Sindhu, Shetty Advance

Day 3 of the BWF World Championships 2026 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi produced several thrilling Round of 32 encounters, with major contenders continuing their pursuit of the podium.

The day brought contrasting fortunes for the Indian contingent, as Lakshya Sen suffered a shock defeat while PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty secured impressive victories.

Garret Tan Stuns Lakshya Sen

The biggest upset of the day came in the men’s singles, where 18-year-old American Garret Tan defeated 14th seed Lakshya Sen 19-21, 21-19, 21-17.

Sen won the opening game, but Tan fought back strongly to take the second before completing a remarkable comeback in the decider. The 73-minute battle saw Tan produce a composed performance under pressure to book his place in the Round of 16.

Unnati Hooda Pushes Michelle Li

Indian debutant Unnati Hooda came agonisingly close to another major upset against Canada’s 13th seed Michelle Li.

Li eventually prevailed 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 after Hooda held two match points in the deciding game. The Canadian saved both opportunities before sealing the contest with a down-the-line smash.

PV Sindhu Advances Comfortably

Former world champion PV Sindhu continued her campaign with a controlled 21-16, 21-17 victory over Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang.
Sindhu dictated the pace throughout the contest and secured her place in the pre-quarterfinals with a straight-game win.

Ayush Shetty Cruises Through

Rising Indian star Ayush Shetty produced another commanding performance, defeating Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10.

Shetty needed only 26 minutes to complete the victory and advance to the Round of 16.

Top Seeds Continue Winning Run

Several leading contenders also progressed without major trouble. World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Chen Yufei, Akane Yamaguchi and Kodai Naraoka all recorded straight-game victories to reach the Round of 16.

With the Round of 16 beginning tomorrow, the competition is set to intensify as the remaining players move closer to the world championship podium.