Shenzhen, August 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Lakshya Sen will face newly crowned world champion Alex Lanier in a blockbuster opening-round clash as a strong Indian contingent begins its campaign at the China Masters 2026, a BWF Super 750 tournament, at the Shenzhen Sports Centre Gymnasium from September 1 to 6.
World No. 13 Lakshya faces a formidable challenge against France’s Lanier, who arrives in Shenzhen after making history at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi by becoming the first Frenchman to win the men’s singles world title.
The two shuttlers have met once before, with Lanier defeating Lakshya in straight games in the quarter-finals of last year’s Denmark Open. Lakshya will look to reverse that result after an early exit from the World Championships, where he lost to USA’s Garret Tan in the second round.
Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth will join Lakshya in India’s men’s singles challenge. Srikanth, who finished runner-up at the US Open in June, brings considerable experience to a highly competitive draw.
Ayush Shetty, who stunned 2025 world champion Shi Yuqi in the opening round of the World Championships, will miss the Shenzhen tournament. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is also absent.
In men’s doubles, world No. 5 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lead India’s challenge as the fourth seeds. The pair won the Singapore Badminton Open in May and reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships. MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan will also compete in the event.
India’s women’s singles challenge will feature Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma and Devika Sihag. Eighteen-year-old Unnati, ranked world No. 25, made her World Championships debut recently and reached the second round before losing narrowly to Canada’s Michelle Li.
World No. 26 Tanvi has enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning her maiden BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open, while Devika enters the competition after winning the Thailand Masters earlier this year.
All three are part of India’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto and Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde will compete in mixed doubles. India has no entries in women’s doubles, with Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand skipping the tournament after their historic bronze-medal finish at the World Championships.
The China Masters will also provide an important competitive outing for India’s Asian Games-bound players ahead of the continental event scheduled from September 19 to October 4.
Eleven members of India’s 20-player Asian Games badminton squad — Lakshya, Srikanth, Unnati, Tanvi, Devika, Satwiksairaj, Chirag, Arjun, Hariharan, Dhruv and Tanisha — will compete in Shenzhen.
India will also seek to create history at the tournament, having never won the China Masters since its inception in 2005.
China Masters 2026: India Squad
Men’s singles: Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth
Men’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, MR Arjun/Hariharan Amsakarunan
Women’s singles: Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag
Mixed doubles: Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto, Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde
Women’s doubles: No Indian entries
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