Meiraba, Suveer advance to Round of 16 at Baoji China Masters; Negi exits
Synopsis
India's badminton contingent delivered a mixed opening day at the Baoji China Masters. While Meiraba and Suveer advanced decisively in straight sets, Negi's dominant loss to Sun Chao signals the challenge posed by home-ground advantage. With multiple Indian women's entries in the draw, including top seed Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, the focus shifts to Wednesday's Round of 16 action.
Key Takeaways
Maisnam Luwang Meiraba defeated Erfan Majeed Hajibeigy 21-14, 21-14 and advances to face Huang Ping-Hsien of Chinese Taipei .
Tushar Suveer beat Chang Han-Tsai 21-17, 21-9 and will play third seed Richie Duta Richardo of Indonesia .
Dhruv Negi lost to Sun Chao of China 13-21, 8-21 in a one-sided match.
Top seed Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj plays compatriot Shreya Lele in an all-Indian women's clash on Wednesday .
The 2026 Baoji China Masters is the eleventh tournament of the BWF World Tour calendar with a $120,000 purse.
Maisnam Luwang Meiraba and Tushar Suveer secured opening-round victories at the 2026 Baoji China Masters, a BWF World Tour Super 100 event with a $120,000 purse, while Dhruv Negi made an early exit on Tuesday at the Baoji City Gymnasium in Baoji, China.
Men's singles results
Meiraba defeated Erfan Majeed Hajibeigy of Malaysia 21-14, 21-14 to set up a Round of 16 clash with Huang Ping-Hsien of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday. Suveer overcame Chang Han-Tsai of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-9 and will face third seed Richie Duta Richardo of Indonesia in the next round. Negi, however, suffered a lopsided loss to Sun Chao of China, falling 13-21, 8-21 in a dominant performance by his opponent.
Other Indian men's entries
Manraj Singh received a bye and will meet Toma Noda of Japan in the Round of 16. Ginpaul Sonna also advanced without playing in the first round. Nicholas Raj is scheduled to face Yi Liu of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.
Women's singles matchups
Top seed Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj will take on compatriot Shreya Lele in an all-Indian first-round encounter on Wednesday. Seventh seed Ashmita Chaliha is pitted against Sakura Masuki of Japan. Third seed Shriyanshi Valishetty, ranked 53rd globally, faces Han Tu Chen of Chinese Taipei, while Madhavi Nagar will play sixth seed Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari of Indonesia. Mansi Singh meets Yuan An Qi of China. Second seed Tanya Hemanth, ranked 54th in the world, will face Tonrug Saeheng.
Tournament context
The Baoji China Masters is the third edition of the event organised by the Chinese Badminton Association and sanctioned by the BWF. It marks the eleventh tournament of the 2026 BWF World Tour calendar and runs through the week at the Baoji City Gymnasium.
Point of View
But falter against players with home-court momentum and aggression. Meiraba and Suveer's straight-set wins were workmanlike; Negi's loss was a reminder that the Chinese circuit remains a proving ground. The women's draw — anchored by two world-ranked top seeds — offers a better chance of a deep run, but an all-Indian first-round clash between Rakshitha and Shreya means one medal opportunity is already off the table.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won in the men's singles on Day One at Baoji China Masters?
Maisnam Luwang Meiraba defeated Erfan Majeed Hajibeigy of Malaysia 21-14, 21-14, and Tushar Suveer beat Chang Han-Tsai of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-9. Both advanced to the Round of 16.
Which Indian player exited on the opening day?
Dhruv Negi lost to Sun Chao of China 13-21, 8-21 in a lopsided first-round match.
Who are the top-seeded Indian women players at the event?
Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj is the top seed, and Tanya Hemanth is the second seed, ranked 54th globally. Both are scheduled to play their first-round matches on Wednesday.
What is the prize purse and tournament status of the Baoji China Masters?
The 2026 Baoji China Masters is a BWF World Tour Super 100 event with a total purse of $120,000. It is the eleventh tournament of the 2026 BWF World Tour calendar and the third edition of the event.
