India's singles challenge ends in New Delhi
P.V. Sindhu and Ayush Shetty were eliminated from the BWF World Championships in the pre-quarterfinals at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, ending India's singles campaign in the tournament. Both had advanced from earlier rounds, but losses on Day 4 left the host's prospects resting with its doubles pairs.
A demanding day against higher-ranked opponents
The day's programme had paired the Indian players with several of the circuit's top-ranked opponents. Ayush Shetty, the Indian qualifier, faced Indonesia's Alwi Farhan, the 11th seed, while Sindhu, seeded ninth, met third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China. In the women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, ranked 39th, took on Japan's seventh-seeded pair of Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, and mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto faced China's sixth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui. India's men's doubles pair, fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, were the only Indian entrants not facing a higher-ranked opponent, opening against Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King.
Doubles pairs carry India's remaining hopes
With the singles players out, Indian men's and women's doubles pairs became the host's last standing contenders. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were scheduled to play their first match of the day late in the Court 1 block, with the winner advancing to the last eight. The women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand had opened the day's Indian action in the round of 16, looking to extend a run built on attacking play in the previous round.
Drift adds a complicating variable in Delhi
Air movement inside the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium emerged as a recurring talking point during the tournament. Players have pointed to drift inside the venue as a factor influencing shuttle placement, adding an extra layer of difficulty for those unaccustomed to the conditions in New Delhi. The issue was highlighted after USA's Garret Tan required attention from a physio during his loss to Lakshya Sen on Day 3, with drift cited as a contributor to the cramped conditions that affected several matches.
What to watch next
The men's and women's doubles pairs face the quarterfinals on Friday as the BWF World Championships continue in New Delhi, with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty the highest-seeded Indians still in contention. The mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will look to extend their run against higher-ranked opposition.
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