Thailand Open 2026: Srikanth Faces Loh Kean Yew Test, Ayush Shetty Headlines India’s Strong R32 Line-up

India’s campaign at the Thailand Open 2026 continues with a packed Round of 32 schedule, featuring a mix of experienced names and emerging talent across singles and doubles disciplines. 

With multiple intriguing match-ups, the opening day at the BWF Super 500 event presents both opportunity and challenge for Indian shuttlers. Here is a discipline-wise breakdown of India’s key matches: The men’s singles draw presents a compelling mix of narratives veteran resilience, emerging potential, and stylistic clashes.

Kidambi Srikanth vs Loh Kean Yew

This contest is one of the standout ties of the opening round. Kidambi Srikanth enters the match in what can be described as the final phase of his professional career. The former world No.1 has struggled for consistency in 2026 and is yet to register back-to-back wins this season.

However, Srikanth remains competitive in patches. In his previous meeting against Loh Kean Yew, he managed to push the Singaporean to a decider, showing that he can still match the intensity at this level.

Loh Kean Yew, on the other hand, has seen a dip in rankings and form over the past year. Despite this decline, his pace, attacking instincts, and ability to control rallies make him the favourite in this contest. For Srikanth, the key will be to extend rallies and disrupt Loh’s rhythm rather than engage in outright pace exchanges.

Tharun Mannepalli has built a reputation for stepping up against higher-ranked opponents. His ability to stay in rallies and force errors could be crucial against Japan’s Koki Watanabe. Watanabe comes into the tournament after a disappointing straight-game loss to Lee Zii Jia last week, which raises questions about his current form. However, his overall quality and experience still position him as the likely winner.

Expect Tharun to push this match deep, potentially into a decider, especially if he can maintain consistency in longer rallies.

Ayush Shetty vs Kodai Naraoka

This match-up offers an interesting contrast in playing styles. Ayush Shetty’s aggressive, attacking game often forces opponents onto the defensive, while Kodai Naraoka prefers a slower, rally-based approach built on endurance and control. Their previous meeting, six months ago, was closely contested, and since then, Ayush has shown clear improvement in both shot selection and match temperament.

Conditions in Thailand, which generally favour quicker play, could tilt the balance slightly in Ayush’s favour. If he can dictate pace early, this could turn into one of the biggest opportunities for an Indian upset in the round.

Lakshya Sen enters as one of India’s strongest prospects in the draw. With a dominant head-to-head record (5-0) against Jason Teh, the Indian will look to carry that confidence into this match. Sen’s ability to control tempo and transition between defence and attack makes him a clear favourite. The expectation will be a controlled performance rather than a prolonged battle.

India’s women’s singles contingent features a blend of elite experience and promising young players.

PV Sindhu vs Tung Ciou Tong

PV Sindhu begins her campaign against Tung Ciou Tong in a relatively favourable opening round. With no previous head-to-head record between the two, Sindhu’s experience at the highest level gives her a clear edge.

The focus for Sindhu will be on clean execution and minimizing unforced errors as she builds momentum in the tournament.

Unnati Hooda vs Pornpawee Chochuwong

This is a challenging draw for Unnati Hooda, who faces Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong. The head-to-head stands at 0-3, reflecting the gap in experience and consistency between the two players.

Playing in home conditions, Chochuwong will start as a strong favourite, and Hooda will need a near-perfect performance to challenge effectively.

Anmol Kharb vs Chen Yu Fei

Anmol Kharb faces one of the toughest possible opponents in Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei. With a 0-1 head-to-head record, the Indian will need to significantly elevate her game to compete.

The match presents more of a learning opportunity, given the difference in experience and ranking.

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Devika Sihag, Tanvi Sharma, Malvika Bansod, and Isharani Baruah also feature in the draw, each facing opponents with varying levels of experience. These matches will be critical in assessing India’s bench strength in women’s singles.

India’s mixed doubles pairs face competitive opening-round fixtures.

Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto vs Mathias Christiansen / Alexandra Boje

This pairing faces a strong European combination. The Indian duo will need sharp net play and coordinated rotation to stay competitive.

Ashith Suresh / Amrutha Pramuthesh vs Tsai Fu Cheng / Hsung Yu Hsuan

Another evenly poised contest, where the Indian pair’s ability to control mid-court exchanges could determine the outcome.

Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Gadde vs Supak Jomkoh / Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn

Facing a Thai pair in home conditions adds another layer of difficulty. Handling crowd pressure and maintaining composure will be key.

India enters the Thailand Open 2026 with a wide representation across disciplines, but the opening round presents a mix of favourable draws and high-difficulty encounters. The spotlight will be on experienced names like PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen to deliver consistent performances, while matches involving Srikanth, Ayush Shetty, and Tharun Mannepalli could define India’s depth in men’s singles.

With conditions favouring attacking play, Indian shuttlers have an opportunity to capitalize—but execution under pressure will ultimately determine how many progress beyond the Round of 32.