PV Sindhu leads India’s Australian Open challenge; Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag miss out

Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will spearhead India’s challenge at the Australian Badminton Open 2026, with a 24-member contingent set to compete at the BWF Super 500 tournament beginning in Sydney on Tuesday.

The Indian squad features experienced shuttlers HS Prannoy and Kiran George alongside emerging talent Ayush Shetty, who will be looking to bounce back after an early exit at last week’s Indonesia Open. However, India will be without two of its biggest names, with defending men’s singles champion Lakshya Sen and former winner Kidambi Srikanth missing this year’s tournament.

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Sindhu headlines a strong eight-member women’s singles contingent that also includes Malvika Bansod, Anmol Kharb, Tanvi Sharma, Aakarshi Kashyap, Isharani Baruah and Tanya Hemnath. Imad Farooqui Samiya will begin her campaign in the qualifying rounds.

India’s men’s doubles challenge has also been dealt a setback following the withdrawal of Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The star pair pulled out after Satwik suffered a shoulder injury during the Indonesia Open, leaving MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan to lead the country’s campaign in the discipline.

Notably, India will have no representation in the women’s doubles event at this year’s Australian Badminton Open.

Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu and Arjun Reddy Pochana are set to compete in only their second BWF World Tour event of the season, having previously featured at the Orleans Masters earlier this year.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty, HS Prannoy and Kiran George will spearhead a relatively depleted Indian challenge. All three suffered first-round exits at last week’s Indonesia Open and will be eager to bounce back with stronger performances in Sydney.

India will also have three pairs in the mixed doubles competition. Dhruv Kapila and Olympian Tanisha Crasto lead the contingent, joined by Dhruv Rawat-Manisha Keer and the sibling duo of Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan.

Australian Badminton Open 2026: India squad

Men’s singles: HS Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, Kiran George, Tharun Mannepalli, Saneeth Dayanand (Q), Manraj Singh (Q)

Men’s doubles: MR Arjun-Hariharan Amsakarunan, Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu-Arjun Reddy Pochana

Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Tanvi Sharma. Malvika Bansod, Isharani Baruah, Anmol Kharb, Aakarshi Kashyap, Tanya Hemnath, Imad Farooqui Samiya (Q)

Mixed doubles: Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto, Dhruv Rawat-Manisha Keer, Mohit Jaglan-Lakshita Jaglan.