Lakshya Sen upset by Garret Tan as Sindhu and Ayush reach pre-quarters in New Delhi

On Tuesday at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Lakshya Sen was eliminated by 18-year-old American Garret Tan, World No. 92, while Asian Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the pre-quarterfinals. India left Day 3 with four players still alive in the last 16.

The day produced mixed results for the hosts: 2021 bronze medallist Lakshya Sen exited after a second-round meeting with Garret Tan, and rising names progressed alongside a number of early departures. PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty moved through their matches, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto recorded a quick doubles win, and several other Indian campaigns ended. The tournament schedule and results left India with a slim representation heading into the later rounds.

PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty face stiffer tests next: Sindhu is set to meet Wang Zhi Yi of China, whom she defeated at last year’s World Championships, while Ayush will play Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan. Both players recorded wins that organisers described as a relatively straightforward preparation for the tougher matches ahead.

In doubles, 15th seeds Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto defeated Macau’s Leong Lok Chong and Ng Weng Chi in just 30 minutes to progress. By contrast, MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan were eliminated in the men’s doubles, and teenager Unnati Hooda’s run in the women’s singles came to an end.

The fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have not yet played at the tournament after receiving a first-round bye and a second-round walkover from Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle. They are due to meet 12th seeds Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Jaoquin of Indonesia, and "After two rounds without a match, the big question will be whether the fifth seeds can shake off the rust when their campaign finally begins."

Sindhu’s tie with Wang Zhi Yi, Ayush’s match against Alwi Farhan and the potential first appearance of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty versus Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Jaoquin are scheduled for Thursday, as India’s remaining players prepare for the pre-quarterfinal stage.