When the BWF World Championships return to India after 17 years, much of the spotlight will naturally fall on established stars such as PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and the celebrated men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
But beyond the familiar names, another story is set to unfold in New Delhi.
Four Indian shuttlers – Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam – are preparing to make their maiden appearance at badminton’s biggest tournament. Each has earned their place through breakthrough performances on the international circuit, and the home World Championships present an opportunity to announce themselves on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
Ayush Shetty: India’s newest men’s singles star
Few Indian shuttlers have enjoyed a rise as rapid as Ayush Shetty over the past two seasons.
The Karnataka youngster first caught the badminton world’s attention by winning a bronze medal at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships before making a seamless transition to the senior circuit.
His breakthrough arrived in 2025 when he claimed his maiden BWF World Tour title at the US Open Super 300, defeating Canada’s Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13 in the final.
Ayush has continued to build on that success in 2026. At the Badminton Asia Championships, he became the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna in 1965 to reach the final of the continental event. His memorable run included victories over former world champion Li Shi Feng, former Asian champion Jonatan Christie and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn before settling for silver.
The World Championships will now provide another major milestone, as the 21-year-old prepares to compete on badminton’s biggest stage for the first time.
Unnati Hooda: The teenage prodigy ready for her biggest test
At just 17, Unnati Hooda has already established herself as one of India’s brightest young talents.
She burst onto the scene in 2022 by winning the Odisha Open Super 100 at the age of 14, becoming the youngest Indian to claim a BWF World Tour title after defeating compatriot Samiya Imad Farooqui in the final.
Since then, the Haryana shuttler has continued her steady rise through the senior ranks.
One of the defining moments of her young career came at the 2025 China Open Super 1000, where she stunned former world champion PV Sindhu. Earlier this year, she added another international title by lifting the Polish Open trophy, further underlining her growing reputation.
Now, the teenager is set for the biggest tournament of her career, making her World Championships debut in front of a home crowd.
Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam: India’s rising women’s doubles partnership
While India’s women’s doubles has often searched for consistent partnerships on the international stage, Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam have quietly emerged as one of the country’s most promising combinations.
Mumbai-born Simran began her badminton journey under renowned coach Uday Pawar at Goregaon Sports Club, the same academy that helped shape World Championships medallist Chirag Shetty. After impressing throughout the junior circuit, she successfully transitioned into the senior setup before partnering Kavipriya.
Kavipriya, who hails from Puducherry, developed through the highly competitive Tamil Nadu domestic circuit, establishing herself as a doubles specialist before joining forces with Simran.
Together, the pair have steadily climbed the world rankings, reaching a career-high No. 38. Regular appearances at Super 300 and Super 500 events, along with representation at the Badminton Asia Championships, have helped the duo gain valuable experience against some of the world’s best pairs.
The World Championships in New Delhi will represent the biggest milestone of their partnership so far.
For every badminton star, a World Championships debut is a career milestone. For these four Indians, the occasion becomes even more special with the tournament being staged on home soil for the first time since 2009.
India’s medal hopes may largely rest on experienced campaigners such as Sindhu, Lakshya, Satwik and Chirag, but Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam represent the future of Indian badminton.