World junior championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma, along with women’s doubles national champions Ashwini Bhat K., Shikha Gautam, and Tharun Mannepalli, have been elevated to the main draw of the BWF India Open 2026 due to the withdrawal of top players just before the tournament. Notable withdrawals include world champion Shi Yuqi and women’s third seed Akane Yamaguchi, creating opportunities for the promoted Indian players.
Tanvi Sharma is set to debut at the India Open and will face second seed Wang Zhi Yi of China in the opening round. If successful, she could potentially meet fellow Indian PV Sindhu in the second round. Tharun Mannepalli’s promotion leads to two all-India matchups in the men’s singles opening round, with Lakshya Sen facing Ayush Shetty and Tharun playing against Kidambi Srikanth.
In women’s doubles, Ashwini Bhat K. and Shikha Gautam will take on Margot Lambert and Camille Pognante of France in their opening match. The Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2026, a BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament, holds special significance for Indian players as it serves as a prelude to the upcoming BWF World Championships 2026, set to be held at the same venue in August.
The tournament, scheduled from January 13-18, 2026, promises an enhanced viewing experience for fans at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. Notable withdrawals from the main draw include Shi Yu Qi and Weng Hong Yang in men’s singles, Akane Yamaguchi and Sim Yu Jin in women’s singles, Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang in men’s doubles, and Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian in women’s doubles.
