Asian Games 2026: Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda advance to Round of 16 in badminton singles
Synopsis
India's badminton singles campaign at Asian Games 2026 survived a testing day in Ichinomiya City — Ayush Shetty was near-flawless in 21 minutes while Unnati Hooda clawed through a 79-minute battle. But with Lakshya Sen already out and both remaining Indians facing top-6 or top-10 opponents next, the real test begins now.
Key Takeaways
Ayush Shetty defeated Kazakhstan's Makhsut Tajibullayev 21-7, 21-7 in just 21 minutes to reach the Round of 16 at Asian Games 2026 .
Unnati Hooda beat Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching 21-14, 20-22, 21-19 in a 79-minute contest to advance.
20 ) next faces Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-Chen , trailing 1-2 in head-to-head record.
25 ) faces Indonesia's world No.
6 Putri Kusuma Wardani , who leads their head-to-head 1-0 .
Lakshya Sen suffered a shock exit earlier in the day, losing to Singapore's former world champion Loh Kean Yew .
PV Sindhu is yet to play her second-round match against Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-chian on Saturday.
Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda kept India's badminton singles campaign alive at the Asian Games 2026 in Ichinomiya City, both progressing to the Round of 16 with contrasting victories on Saturday, 26 September. While Ayush cruised through in a clinical 21-minute demolition, Unnati had to dig deep through a gruelling 79-minute three-game thriller.
Ayush Shetty's Dominant Display
World No. 20 Ayush made short work of Kazakhstan's Makhsut Tajibullayev, winning 21-7, 21-7 in the second round. The Indian controlled proceedings from the very first rally, denying the Kazakh any opportunity to settle into the match. The comfortable straight-game win was doubly valuable — it also conserved Ayush's energy ahead of a much sterner test later in the evening.
His Round of 16 opponent will be Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-Chen, against whom Ayush trails 1-2 in head-to-head meetings. That record underlines how significant an upgrade in competition the pre-quarterfinal represents.
Unnati Hooda Battles Through a Three-Game Classic
Unnati's passage was anything but straightforward. The world No. 25 Indian took the opening game 21-14 against Malaysia's world No. 38 Wong Ling Ching, but the Malaysian responded strongly, forcing a decider with a 22-20 win in the second game.
The third game remained on a knife's edge throughout, with neither player able to build a commanding lead. Unnati eventually crafted two match points at 20-18. Wong clawed one back, but a cross-court attempt that went wide on the next rally handed the Indian a hard-fought 21-14, 20-22, 21-19 victory.
Unnati now faces a considerably tougher assignment — Indonesia's world No. 6 Putri Kusuma Wardani in the Round of 16. The Indonesian holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over Unnati, having won their only previous encounter at the 2025 Hylo Open.
Lakshya Sen's Shock Exit Adds Context
The progress of both players comes against a difficult backdrop for Indian singles. Earlier on Saturday, Lakshya Sen suffered a shock second-round exit at the hands of Singapore's former world champion Loh Kean Yew, leaving Ayush as India's sole remaining men's singles representative at the Games. The loss added urgency to Ayush's pre-quarterfinal assignment against Chou.
PV Sindhu Still to Play
India's campaign is not yet complete for the day. Ace shuttler PV Sindhu is still to take the court on Saturday, with her second-round match against Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-chian scheduled later in the day. Sindhu's result will further shape India's singles prospects heading into the knockout rounds.
With Ayush facing a top-10 opponent and Unnati up against a world No. 6, Sunday's outcomes will define the ceiling of India's badminton campaign at Asian Games 2026.
Point of View
But the harder story is context: with Lakshya Sen gone, India's entire men's singles hopes now rest on a player who trails Chou Tien-Chen 1-2. Unnati's gritty win showed character, but a world No. 6 opponent in the very next round means her campaign is at a genuine crossroads. PV Sindhu's result on Saturday will determine whether India walks away from the singles draw with anything to celebrate — or faces an early collective exit that would mark a significant dip from recent Asian Games performances.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ayush Shetty win his Round of 16 match at Asian Games 2026?
Ayush Shetty beat Kazakhstan's Makhsut Tajibullayev 21-7, 21-7 in just 21 minutes, dominating the match from start to finish. The world No. 20 Indian gave his opponent no chance to build momentum across both games.
How did Unnati Hooda's match against Wong Ling Ching unfold?
Unnati Hooda defeated Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching 21-14, 20-22, 21-19 in a 79-minute contest. She won the first game comfortably, lost the second after Wong fought back, then edged the decider after saving a match point, with Wong's cross-court attempt going wide at 20-19.
Who does Ayush Shetty play next at Asian Games 2026?
Ayush Shetty faces Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-Chen in the pre-quarterfinals later on Saturday evening. Ayush trails Chou 1-2 in their previous meetings, making it a tough assignment.
Who does Unnati Hooda face in the Round of 16?
Unnati Hooda plays Indonesia's world No. 6 Putri Kusuma Wardani in the Round of 16. The Indonesian leads their head-to-head 1-0, having won their only previous meeting at the 2025 Hylo Open.
What happened to Lakshya Sen at Asian Games 2026?
Lakshya Sen was knocked out in the men's singles second round on Saturday, losing to Singapore's former world champion Loh Kean Yew. His exit leaves Ayush Shetty as India's only remaining men's singles player at the Games.
