India’s mixed doubles campaign at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 faced a precarious start in Ningbo, China, on Tuesday, with only one pair surviving the opening round. In a high-stakes environment at the Ningbo Olympic Centre, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto emerged as the sole Indian representatives to advance, keeping the nation’s hopes alive in the category after two other duos were eliminated.
The mixed doubles event has been a rollercoaster for the Indian contingent, characterized by a mixture of gritty resilience and disappointing exits. Whereas the victory of Kapila and Crasto provides a glimmer of hope, the overall results from Tuesday highlight the steep challenge facing the squad in one of the most competitive regions in world badminton.
The focus now shifts toward the singles competition, where India’s heavyweights are expected to enter the fray. With the mixed doubles challenge narrowed down to a single pair, the pressure intensifies on the singles stars to secure a strong presence in the later stages of the tournament.
Kapila and Crasto Outlast Thai Opponents in Three-Game Thriller
Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto secured their place in the second round after a grueling encounter against Thailand’s Phuwanat Horbanluekit and Benyapa Aimsaard. The match, which lasted 51 minutes, was a tactical battle that saw the Indian pair prevail with a final score of 21-14, 11-21, 21-15 according to reports from the Ningbo Olympic Centre. The victory is particularly significant given that Kapila and Crasto were the only Indian mixed doubles pair to reach the quarter-finals at the previous year’s championships.
The match began strongly for the Indians, who took the first game 21-14, but the Thai pair, featuring former women’s doubles top-ten player Benyapa Aimsaard, fought back to claim the second game 21-11. In the deciding third game, Kapila and Crasto managed to maintain their composure, eventually closing out the match 21-15 to preserve India’s mixed doubles challenge alive.
Early Exits for Other Indian Mixed Doubles Pairs
Despite the success of Kapila and Crasto, the day was otherwise bleak for India’s mixed doubles entries. Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani suffered a straight-games defeat against Malaysia’s eighth seeds, Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie. The Indian duo struggled to find their rhythm early in the match, eventually falling 13-21, 19-21 in a contest that lasted 34 minutes as detailed by Sportstar.
Similarly, Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh failed to navigate the opening hurdle. They faced Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien, losing 16-21, 15-21 in a 31-minute match. While the Indian pair showed flashes of resistance, they were unable to sustain pressure at critical moments against their steady Malaysian opponents.
Major Blows: Top Seeds Withdraw Due to Injury
The Indian campaign entered the Ningbo event already hampered by the absence of its most decorated doubles players. India’s top men’s doubles pairing, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, withdrew from the tournament. BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra confirmed that the duo, who are India’s only Top 5 ranked shuttlers, would miss the event to allow Rankireddy to address ongoing shoulder problems as reported by the Indian Express.
The setbacks continued in the women’s doubles category, where the pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also withdrew. Jolly has been nursing shoulder issues, leading the pair to stay cautious ahead of the Thomas and Uber Cup scheduled for next month. These withdrawals have shifted the weight of India’s medal hopes toward the singles categories and the remaining mixed doubles pair.
Looking Ahead: India’s Singles Stars Begin Campaigns
With the mixed doubles field winnowed, the spotlight turns to Wednesday, April 8, as India’s top singles players begin their journeys in Ningbo. The squad features a full quota of players across both men’s and women’s singles, with several high-ranking athletes expected to make deep runs.
Women’s Singles Outlook
P. V. Sindhu, currently ranked World No 13, leads the Indian charge in the women’s singles. She is scheduled to face Malaysian Wong Ching Ling in her opening match. Sindhu remains a primary focal point for the Indian contingent as they look to recover from the early mixed doubles losses according to tournament previews.
Men’s Singles Outlook
The men’s singles draw presents a mix of challenging openers and high-profile rematches:
- Lakshya Sen: The World No 12 is set to start his campaign against Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong.
- Ayush Shetty: Ranked World No 25, Shetty faces a difficult opening match against fifth seed and home favorite Li Shifeng.
- Kidambi Srikanth: In a highly anticipated matchup, Srikanth will face Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, marking their first encounter in five years since the World Championships.
- HS Prannoy: Prannoy is scheduled to take on a qualifier in his opening round.
Key Takeaways from Day One
| Pair | Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto | Phuwanat Horbanluekit / Benyapa Aimsaard (THA) | Won | 21-14, 11-21, 21-15 |
| Rohan Kapoor / Gadde Ruthvika Shivani | Goh Soon Huat / Lai Shevon Jemie (MAS) | Lost | 13-21, 19-21 |
| Ashith Surya / Amrutha Pramuthesh | Wong Tien Ci / Lim Chiew Sien (MAS) | Lost | 16-21, 15-21 |
The Badminton Asia Championships 2026 continue on Wednesday, with the primary focus shifting to the singles draws featuring P. V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen. Fans can expect updates as the singles campaigns unfold in Ningbo.
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