China Masters 2026: Kidambi Srikanth and Tanvi Sharma advanced to the second round, while Lakshya Sen suffered a first-round defeat against Victor Lai
New Delhi: The ongoing China Masters 2026 in Shenzhen witnessed contrasting results for the Indian contingent on Wednesday. Kidambi Srikanth produced a composed performance to move into the next round, while 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma continued her impressive rise on the international stage. However, one of India’s biggest hopes in men’s singles, Lakshya Sen, was knocked out of the tournament in the opening round.
Kidambi Srikanth Registers Straight-Games Victory
Former World Championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth began his China Masters campaign with a convincing victory over Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen in the men’s singles opening round.
Srikanth defeated his opponent 21-16, 21-15 in straight games to book his place in the second round. The experienced Indian remained in control for most of the contest, using his experience and consistency to keep pressure on his opponent.
The victory was particularly significant for Srikanth, who has been working to regain consistency on the international circuit. A strong performance at a major tournament like the China Masters could provide him with an important boost in confidence as he looks to make a deeper run in the competition.
Teenager Tanvi Sharma Continues Her Impressive Run
India’s young badminton prospect Tanvi Sharma also delivered an impressive performance to advance in the women’s singles competition.
The 17-year-old defeated Denmark’s Amalie Schul, ranked World No. 40, in straight games, winning 21-16, 21-17. Tanvi displayed remarkable composure and confidence against a higher-ranked international opponent to secure her place in the next round.
Tanvi, who is also a World Junior Championships silver medallist, is increasingly being seen as one of India’s most promising young talents in women’s badminton. Her performance at a high-level tournament like the China Masters is another positive sign for Indian badminton.
Despite her young age, Tanvi showed the ability to handle pressure and maintain control during crucial moments of the match. Her aggressive approach and confidence on the court have made her one of the players to watch in India’s next generation of badminton stars.
Lakshya Sen Suffers Disappointing First-Round Exit
On the other hand, it was a disappointing day for Lakshya Sen, who crashed out of the tournament after losing to Canada’s Victor Lai.
Lakshya suffered a straight-games defeat, losing 14-21, 7-21 in just 38 minutes. The Indian shuttler struggled to find his rhythm as Victor Lai gradually took control of the match.
Lakshya started the opening game positively and even raced to an early lead. However, Lai soon settled into the contest and began dictating the rallies with his strong defence. As the match progressed, Lakshya became increasingly frustrated and committed several unforced errors.
The second game proved particularly difficult for the Indian star, as Lai maintained complete control and wrapped up the match comfortably.
The defeat marked another setback for Lakshya Sen, who has been searching for consistency in recent international tournaments. It was also his third defeat against Victor Lai, highlighting the challenge the Canadian has posed to the Indian player.
Mixed Results for the Indian Contingent
Overall, it was a mixed day for India at the China Masters 2026. While the victories of Kidambi Srikanth and Tanvi Sharma brought positive news, Lakshya Sen’s early exit came as a major disappointment for Indian badminton fans.
India also enjoyed success in the mixed doubles competition, where Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto secured a dominant victory over Thailand’s Tonkid Saeheng and Tonrug Saeheng.
The Indian pair won the match 21-8, 21-9, producing a commanding performance to advance to the next round.
With Srikanth, Tanvi and the mixed doubles pair moving forward, India’s challenge in the tournament remains alive. The experienced Srikanth will look to use his international experience to progress deeper into the competition, while Tanvi Sharma will aim to continue her impressive run against tougher opponents.
The China Masters is one of the important events on the international badminton calendar, and the competition is expected to become tougher in the upcoming rounds. For Indian fans, all eyes will now be on the players who have progressed and whether they can carry their momentum forward.
While Lakshya Sen’s early exit has been disappointing, the performances of Kidambi Srikanth and Tanvi Sharma have provided plenty of positives for India. Their victories have ensured that the Indian challenge remains strong as the China Masters 2026 moves into its next stage.
