Sabasports Match Preview
2026 India Badminton Open
Kickoff Time: 2026-1-13 — 1-18 (HKT)
The 2026 India Badminton Open will take place from January 13 to 18 in New Delhi, India. As a Badminton World Federation Super 750 event, it boasts a total prize purse of $950,000. This tournament has attracted top players from around the world, all competing for the championship title and substantial prizes.
In men’s singles, top seed Shi Yuqi will head the upper half of the draw and will face Canada’s Brian Yang in the first round. In the previous Malaysia Open, Shi reached the finals but unfortunately withdrew due to back pain, missing the opportunity to defend his title. Although he did not win, his performance in the Malaysia Open, especially his impressive semifinal victory over Anders Antonsen, was noteworthy. Fans are eager to see if Shi can overcome his injury and make a triumphant return at the India Open. Additionally, the upper half features strong contenders such as fourth seed Chou Tien Chen, sixth seed Alex Lanier, and seventh seed Kodai Naraoka, all of whom present significant challenges for Shi as he aims to progress.
In the lower half, Kunlavut Vitidsarn is the second seed and will face Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the first round. In the previous Malaysia Open, Kunlavut also showcased outstanding performance, winning the championship after benefitting from Shi’s withdrawal in the finals, thus avenging his loss in the semifinals of the 2025 Year-End Finals. This time, Shi and Kunlavut are seeded one and two, respectively, in separate halves of the draw, and fans are looking forward to a potential rematch in the finals. However, Kunlavut will first have to contend with top players like Jonatan Christie, Christo Popov, and Loh Kean Yew to see if he can continue his winning momentum.
In the recent men’s singles final at the Malaysia Open, Shi Yuqi and Kunlavut faced off in what was billed as a clash between the world’s top two ranked players. Ultimately, Shi withdrew due to back pain, granting Kunlavut the championship. Now, with both players gathered at the India Open, their showdown is set to be a major highlight of the tournament. This premier event in the world of badminton is sure to be exciting, and let’s anticipate their peak performances!