India’s challenge at China Open 2026 ends on Thursday Laksha Sen and Ayush Shetty failed miserably in the men’s singles round of 16 in Changzhou, China. their exit, plus Optoelectronics SindhuThe earlier defeat brought an end to India’s journey in the BWF Super 1000 event.
Lakshya Sen squanders first-game lead
Lakshya Sen lost to Canadian eighth seed Victor Lai 19-21, 11-21 and finally withdrew. The Indians led 15-9 in the first game but failed to seize the opportunity. They won the opening match with a brilliant counterattack and dominated the second game to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Ayush Shetty suffers heartbreaking defeat
Young player Ayush Shetty was very close to entering the quarterfinals, but ultimately lost to Irish player Nhat Nguyen 21-15, 13-21, 20-22. After winning the first game, Shetty was in a favorable position 19-15 in the decider. However, Nguyen staged a stunning comeback to win seven of the last eight points to seal victory and eliminate the Indian shuttler.
PV Sindhu also withdrew from the top 16
Earlier in the day, PV Sindhu was eliminated after three intense games with home favorite Chen Yufei. The two-time Olympic medalist lost 16-21, 22-20, 18-21, ending India’s hopes in the women’s singles event.Focus turns to Taipei Open and home World ChampionshipsWith the China Open over, the Indian team will now turn their attention to the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open, scheduled to begin on July 28. However, the bigger target will be the 2026 BWF World Championships to be held in New Delhi from August 17 to 23, where India will be looking to perform well on home soil.
