Lakshya, Sindhu lead India at Thailand Open 2026
India’s badminton contingent shifts focus back to individual competition as the Thailand Open 2026 begins in Bangkok, with Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu leading the campaign.
Coming off a bronze medal finish at the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, the Indian squad enters the Super 500 event with a mix of experienced names and emerging players across categories.
Lakshya Sen, seeded seventh, returns to competition after missing the Thomas Cup semifinal due to an elbow injury. He opens against Singapore’s Jason Teh Jia Heng, a match that will test his readiness after the layoff. Ayush Shetty, one of India’s standout performers in the Thomas Cup, faces a challenging opener against Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, a World Championships medallist and sixth seed. The match presents a significant step up in competition for the young Indian.
Veteran Kidambi Srikanth will face eighth seed Loh Kean Yew in a high-profile opening-round clash. The match is a rematch of the 2021 World Championships final and comes at a stage where Srikanth is looking to regain consistency.
Tharun Mannepalli, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, will begin his campaign against Japan’s Koki Watanabe.
Women’s singles: Sindhu seeks consistency
PV Sindhu, seeded sixth, will open against Chinese Taipei’s Tung Ciou-Tong. The two-time Olympic medallist showed encouraging form during the Uber Cup but will need to convert close matches more effectively. Sindhu has reached the semifinal in Malaysia and the quarterfinal in Indonesia this season but remains outside the top 10 rankings. A deeper run in Bangkok could be crucial in rebuilding momentum.
Among other Indian players, Unnati Hooda faces a difficult draw against fourth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong. Malvika Bansod will take on Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang, while Anmol Kharb faces second seed and former Olympic champion Chen Yufei in one of the toughest first-round matches.
Devika Sihag meets Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, Tanvi Sharma takes on Hina Akechi, and Isharani Baruah will face a qualifier.
India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, enter the tournament as top seeds. The pair will open against Indonesia’s Muh Putra Erwiansyah and Bagas Maulana. Having previously won the Thailand Open in 2019 and 2024, they will be aiming for a third title.
Their recent performances at the Thomas Cup indicated a return to rhythm after Satwik’s shoulder injury, though they appeared slightly below peak levels. This tournament provides an opportunity to regain dominance on the circuit.
Seventh seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun will face Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh.
In women’s doubles, Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda are India’s only representatives. They will face Taiwan’s Lin Chih-Chun and Yang Chu Yun in the opening round. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will face Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje. The pair will look to build consistency after fluctuating results.
Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde will take on China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Li Yi Jing, while Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh are also in the draw.
The Thailand Open represents an important phase in the season for Indian badminton. Following a team event, players now shift focus to individual rankings and performances. For Lakshya Sen, the tournament is about returning to match fitness and building rhythm. For PV Sindhu, it is about converting promising runs into titles.
In doubles, Satwik and Chirag remain India’s strongest medal prospects. Their past success at this venue and current ranking position make them key contenders. The tournament also offers opportunities for younger players such as Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda to gain experience against higher-ranked opponents.
Live streaming of the Thailand Open 2026 will be available on the Badminton World Federation TV YouTube channel in India. Television broadcast details are yet to be confirmed. India enters the Thailand Open with a balanced squad and multiple contenders across categories. While expectations will be highest from established players, the tournament also provides a platform for emerging names to step up.
The coming week will offer a clearer picture of India’s standing in individual events as the season progresses.
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