China Open 2026: Lakshya, Sindhu, Ayush storm into second round
Synopsis
Ayush Shetty's upset of World No. 11 Alwi Farhan — a player who knocked him out of the 2023 World Juniors — was the headline moment as India's three singles stars all survived three-game battles in Changzhou. Sindhu now faces former Olympic champion Chen Yufei, a player she beat just last week at the Japan Open.
Key Takeaways
PV Sindhu beat Unnati Hooda 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 in 56 minutes , reversing last year's China Open loss to the same opponent.
Ayush Shetty upset World No.
11 Alwi Farhan 21-17, 5-21, 21-17 , avenging his 2023 World Junior Championships semifinal defeat.
Lakshya Sen defeated Japan's Yushi Tanaka 22-20, 15-21, 21-14 to reach the last 16.
Sindhu's second-round opponent is Chen Yufei (China), fourth seed and former Olympic champion, whom she beat at last week's Japan Open .
All three Indian doubles pairs — mixed and men's — exited in the first round, losing to Chinese opponents.
Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and Ayush Shetty all advanced to the second round of the China Open 2026 in Changzhou on Wednesday, 22 July, each winning their opening-round matches in three games. The trio's victories gave India a strong singles showing, even as the country's doubles pairs suffered early exits across all three disciplines.
Sindhu settles scores, eyes Chen Yufei
Just days after ending her title drought at the Japan Open, PV Sindhu overcame a spirited challenge from 18-year-old Unnati Hooda — a fellow Indian — to win 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 in 56 minutes. The two-time Olympic medallist had been eliminated by Hooda at the same tournament last year, making this victory a measure of personal redemption.
Sindhu's second-round opponent will be Chen Yufei of China, the fourth seed and former Olympic champion. Notably, Sindhu defeated Chen during her title-winning run at last week's Japan Open, giving her confidence heading into that high-profile rematch.
Ayush Shetty's standout upset
Ayush Shetty produced one of the day's biggest upsets, defeating World No. 11 Alwi Farhan of Indonesia — a former World Junior champion — 21-17, 5-21, 21-17 to reach the pre-quarterfinals. The result carried added significance: Shetty had lost to Farhan in the semifinals of the 2023 World Junior Championships.
After taking the opening game with disciplined attacking play, Shetty found himself under pressure in a dominant second game from Farhan. The Indian regrouped impressively in the decider, producing a composed display in the closing stages to seal one of the standout wins of his senior career.
Lakshya Sen grinds through opener
Lakshya Sen overcame Japan's Yushi Tanaka in a gruelling three-game contest, winning 22-20, 15-21, 21-14. Like his compatriots, Sen had to dig deep after dropping the second game, but held his nerve in the decider to book his place in the last 16.
India's doubles campaign ends early
India endured a difficult day in the doubles draws. In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde fell to top seeds Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping of China 21-9, 21-16, while Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost to China's Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui 21-18, 21-18.
In men's doubles, M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan were beaten by fourth seeds Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang of China 21-16, 21-7, ending India's challenge in the discipline.
Round 1 Results
Men's Singles: Lakshya Sen bt Yushi Tanaka (Japan) 22-20, 15-21, 21-14; Ayush Shetty bt Alwi Farhan (Indonesia, World No. 11) 21-17, 5-21, 21-17.
Women's Singles: PV Sindhu bt Unnati Hooda (India) 21-14, 9-21, 21-10.
Men's Doubles: Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang (China) bt Hariharan Amsakarunan/Arjun M.R. 21-16, 21-7.
Mixed Doubles: Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui (China) bt Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto 21-18, 21-18; Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping (China) bt Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde 21-9, 21-16.
With three singles players through to the last 16, India's focus now shifts to whether Sindhu can navigate the Chen Yufei test and whether Shetty can extend his impressive run deeper into the draw.
Point of View
Each winning a deciding game under pressure. But the doubles wipeout, particularly the mixed doubles losses to both Chinese top seeds, points to a structural gap that singles brilliance cannot mask. Sindhu versus Chen Yufei is the tie to watch: a rematch within a week of their Japan Open meeting will be a genuine barometer of whether Sindhu's resurgence is sustained form or a one-tournament peak. Shetty's win over Farhan, meanwhile, is the kind of result that changes a young player's self-perception — the question is whether he can now back it up in the next round against stiffer opposition.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who advanced to the second round of the China Open 2026 from India?
Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and Ayush Shetty all advanced to the second round of the China Open 2026 in Changzhou on 22 July, each winning their respective first-round matches in three games.
Who does PV Sindhu play in the second round at the China Open 2026?
Sindhu faces fourth seed Chen Yufei of China, a former Olympic champion, in the second round. Sindhu defeated Chen during her title-winning campaign at the Japan Open the previous week.
What was Ayush Shetty's result at the China Open 2026?
Ayush Shetty defeated World No. 11 Alwi Farhan of Indonesia 21-17, 5-21, 21-17 to reach the pre-quarterfinals. The result was a reversal of their 2023 World Junior Championships semifinal, where Farhan had beaten Shetty.
How did Lakshya Sen perform in his China Open 2026 opener?
Lakshya Sen beat Japan's Yushi Tanaka 22-20, 15-21, 21-14 in a three-game contest to advance to the last 16. Sen dropped the second game before recovering to win the decider.
How did India's doubles pairs fare at the China Open 2026?
India's doubles campaign ended in the first round across all disciplines. Both mixed doubles pairs lost to Chinese opponents, and the men's doubles pair of M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan were beaten by fourth seeds Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang 21-16, 21-7.
