Indian hopes for maintaining their lane to win at least one medal at the World Championships since 2011 can hit this year, as several star players have been handed over to the world meeting by demanding draw. The double pair and former combination of world No. 1 Satwiksairaj Randiredy and Chirag Shetty carry much of the hope of the nation for success at the prestigious event, which will take place from 25 to 31 August in the Arena of Adidas, Paris.
Former bronze medalist Lakeshya Dream faces seed No. 1 Shi Yuqi in one of the most anticipated clashes of the first round. Lakeshya holds a 1-3 head record to the head against the Chinese highest seed. Both of them last met at the Indonesia Open in June, where Lakshya lost a hard fought meeting 21–11, 20–22, 15–21.
If Lakeshya exceeds the hard Chinese challenge in the opening round, he will probably meet 10.
Meanwhile, 2023 bronze medalist HS prannoy will start his campaign against Finnish Joaki Oldorff. World No. 34 tolerated a difficult season, often in most tournaments failed to proceed in the second round.
Neither Lakeshya nor prannoy were deployed this time PV Sindu, the only player of Indian singles to secure the sowing.
PV Sindu set for a hard test
The 2019 champion will launch his campaign against Bulgarian Kaloyana Nalbant in what is expected to be a one -sided affair. It is assumed that the 15 will face the second seed of Wang Zhi yi from China in the third round. Sindu, known to increase her play in the main tournaments, gathered five World Championship medals and sought another strong performance. But she is facing a strict challenge against Wang, which she has not been since 2022. Wang comes to Paris in good shape and won China Open Super 1000 in July.
In the male doubles, Satwik and Chirag received the ninth, goodbye to the first round. However, they could meet a hard test against Liang Wei Kang and Wang Chang in the third round, with a potential quarterfinal against the second seeds of Aaron Chia and SOH Wooi Yik is coming.
Last year, Satwik and Chirag suffered one of their greatest heart breaks in Paris and lost the Olympic quarterfinals of Aaron and SOH. The Malaysian couple has long been an accident block for the Indians and has won 11 out of 14 meetings on tour.
India will also be represented in the men’s doubles Hariharan Amsakarunan and Rethinasabapathi, who will face Satwik and the Chirag if they win their opening match against Taipei Liu Hang and Yang after Han.
In the important wound of Indian medals, the prospect of Indian medals withdrew from the event the highest pair of women in the nation Gayatri GoPichand and Treesa Jolly.
World No. 39 Priya Konjengbam and Shuti Misra, along with the Panda and Swetaparna Panda, will fly a flag in the doubles of the women’s. Priya and Shruts open up against the French Margot Lambert and Camille Pognante, while the world no. 38 Rutaparna and Swetaparna will face the Bulgarian Gabriela Stoeve and Stefani Stoev.
In mixed doubles, India will build two pairs. World No. 17 Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto received goodbye to the first round. 16. The seeds could meet the sixth seed of Tang Chun Man and TSE Ying Suet from Hong Kong already in the third round. Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde will also compete in mixed doubles.
Previous Indian medalists at the World Championship:
- Prakash Padukone – Bronze – Men’s Singles – 1983
- Jwala Gutta / Ashwini Ponappa – Bronze – Women’s Doubles –
- PV Sindu – Bronze – Women’s Singles – 2013
- PV Sindu – Bronze – Women’s Singles – 2014
- Saina Nehwal – Silver – Women’s Singles – 2015
- Saina Nehwal – Bronze – Women’s Singles – 2017
- PV Sindu – Silver – Women’s Singles – 2017
- PV Sindu – Silver – Women’s Singles – 2018
- PV Sindu – Gold – Women’s Singles – 2019
- B sai praneeth – bronze – men’s singles – 2019
- Kidambi Sricant – Silver – Men’s Singles – 2021
- Lakeshya dream – bronze – men’s singles – 2021
- Chirag Shetty / Satwiksairaj Randireddy – bronze – men’s doubles – 2022
- HS prannoy – bronze – men’s singles – 2023
– ends
Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
August 13, 2025
