Memorable Matches

Here are some of the most memorable matches that played out at the 30th edition of the BWF World Championships 2026 which concluded in New Delhi last Sunday:

Emre Sonmez/Yasemen Bektas (TUR) bt Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh (IND) 16-21 30-29 24-22

For sheer edge-of-the-seat action, this was the standout match. That it featured two unknown pairs made it all the more fascinating. World No.60 Surya and Pramuthesh, promoted from the reserves, took on No.72 Sonmez/Bektas and it was a thriller all the way, with the Turkiye pair fighting off seven match points in the second game and two in the third.

Ayush Shetty (IND) bt Shi Yu Qi (CHN) 21-14 13-21 21-19

This was reckoned to be the highlight of the opening day, and it lived up to expectations. Fast-rising youngster Shetty had a great start against the defending champion; but Shi took the match to a decider. With Shetty leading 17-6 it looked all but over for the top seed, but Shi staged a magnificent comeback and nearly took the match, and it needed all of Shetty’s composure to nail the last few points for one of the significant upsets in World Championships history.

Kenta Nishimoto (JPN) bt Christo Popov (FRA) 21-17 21-19

Christo Popov was one of the favourites going into the World Championships; Nishimoto, on the other hand, had slipped outside the top 20 and hadn’t won a match in his last six World Tour tournaments. With Popov struggling to exert control in drifty conditions, Nishimoto stopped the Frenchman in straight games.

Garret Tan (USA) bt Lakshya Sen (IND) 19-21 21-19 21-17

This was one result few had foreseen. World No.94 Garret Tan wasn’t reckoned to have a chance against home favourite and 14th seed Lakshya Sen, but after losing a close opening game, Tan unleashed an attacking display that stunned the Indian and the home crowd.

Michelle Li (CAN) bt Unnati Hooda (IND) 11-21 21-9 23-21

Teenager Unnati Hooda came to within an inch of her career’s biggest result when she led 13th seed Michelle Li at the death, but the Canadian saved two match points to secure a memorable win.

Anders Antonsen (DEN) bt Nhat Nguyen (IRE) 21-23 21-19 23-21

An entertaining battle that saw Nguyen very nearly take out the fourth seed. With the match turning combative in the late stages, Antonsen lost his composure and remonstrated with the umpire; Nguyen had the edge and two match points, but a lucky point on a referral and pinpoint accuracy saw Antonsen scramble out of the hole he was in.

Wang Zhi Yi (CHN) bt Pusarla V Sindhu (IND) 21-11 15-21 21-17

In-form home favourite Pusarla lived up to expectations against the third seed, and had Wang in deep trouble in the third game. With Pusarla’s attack causing Wang all sorts of problems, and with the third seed cramping and struggling to move, it looked like the Indian would secure a quarterfinals place. But the stubborn Wang refused to let go, and Pusarla possibly hurried things up. At the end of a marathon 88 minutes, it was Wang who emerged victorious.

Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA) bt Chen Yu Fei (CHN) 15-21 25-23 21-17

A great fightback by Chochuwong as she stymied Chen’s hopes of a first world title. Trailing 13-18 in the second and 6-13 in the third, Chochuwong’s stubbornness broke the fourth seed, and the Thai made the quarterfinals after the 84-minute match.

Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela (IND) bt Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian (CHN) 16-21 21-15 21-13

The Indians have had numerous injury setbacks in their career. This year Jolly had suffered an on-court accident while training and the pair dropped to world No.39. However, from their opening match they looked in great touch, and after beating seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi, they looked set to trouble Jia/Zhang. It went better than they might have expected, running away with the third game and winning India’s second medal in women’s doubles.

Chou Tien Chen (TPE) bt Alwi Farhan (INA) 21-15 21-15

Farhan had looked in exceptional touch when he defused Ayush Shetty’s attack in the previous round. However, it was Chou who controlled proceedings, not allowing the Indonesian any leeway in their quarterfinal on his way to becoming the oldest-ever men’s singles medallist.

Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping bt Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah (INA) 20-22 21-14 22-20

An entertaining match all the way, with Syahnawi/Marwah punching above their weight and taking the match deep against favourites Feng/Huang. It needed all of Feng and Huang’s reserves to outplay the Indonesians as they came through in a 97-minute marathon.

Alex Lanier (FRA) bt Victor Lai (CAN) 16-21 21-13 21-14

Victor Lai was once again the talking point in men’s singles as he cruised into the semifinals without dropping a game. After going ahead against Lanier, the Canadian looked well on his way to making the final, but midway through the second game the Frenchman changed tactics; leveraging his physicality to draw out Lai in long rallies from which the Canadian started to flag. That momentum continued in the third with Lai struggling to read the drift, and Lanier pushed ahead from 13-all to close it out comfortably.

Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (FRA) bt Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (CHN) 22-20 19-21 21-15

The match of the finals. Feng and Huang were favourites, but Gicquel/Delrue executed a tactical masterclass, taking Huang out of the equation and denying her opportunities at the front. Without openings to convert, Feng started to falter, and the French went on to make history in becoming the first from their country to win gold.