BATC 2026: Indian men and women secure quarterfinal berths with contrasting opening-day victories

India’s men and women produced sharply contrasting but equally effective performances on the opening day of the Badminton Asia Team Championships, BATC 2026, with both teams confirming their progression to the quarterfinals after winning their respective group openers on Wednesday.

While the Indian women’s team cruised past Myanmar with a dominant 5–0 sweep, the men were made to work hard by a resilient Singapore side before sealing a dramatic 3–2 victory in Group C. The results ensured that both Indian squads booked places in the last eight with a game to spare in the group stage.

Men dig deep against Singapore

India’s men’s team faced a stern examination from Singapore in a tie that went down to the fifth and deciding rubber. The contest showcased both India’s depth and its ability to respond under pressure, traits that will be crucial as the tournament progresses.

The tie began with a setback for India as Lakshya Sen was edged out in a high-quality opening singles match by former world champion Loh Kean Yew. Lakshya fought back strongly after losing the first game, but Loh’s attacking consistency proved decisive in a three-game encounter that gave Singapore an early 1–0 lead.

India responded emphatically in the doubles. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty delivered a commanding performance, overwhelming their opponents with pace and precision to level the tie. Their straight-games win not only restored parity but also shifted momentum firmly in India’s favour.

The turnaround was consolidated by Ayush Shetty in the second men’s singles. Showing maturity beyond his years, Ayush controlled rallies intelligently and closed out both games with authority to put India 2–1 ahead. At that stage, India appeared poised for a comfortable finish.

However, Singapore refused to fade. In the second doubles match, Pruthvi Roy and K Sai Pratheek took the opening game comfortably and came within touching distance of clinching the tie. But a spirited comeback from the Singapore pair turned the match on its head, as India narrowly lost the next two games despite holding match points.

That defeat pushed the tie into a decisive fifth match, placing the onus on veteran Kidambi Srikanth to deliver. Rising to the occasion, Srikanth produced a composed and assured performance in the third men’s singles. Using his experience and control from the backcourt, he dictated play against Jia Wei Joel Koh to secure a straight-games victory and seal the tie for India.

With Singapore having already lost its first group match to Japan, India’s 3–2 win was enough to confirm a quarterfinal berth.

Women dominate Myanmar

In contrast to the men’s tense battle, the defending champion Indian women’s team enjoyed a largely stress-free outing against Myanmar in Group Y. From the opening match onwards, India asserted clear superiority across all departments.

Teenager Tanvi Sharma set the tone with a confident win in the opening singles, displaying sharp movement and consistent shot-making to give India the early lead. That advantage was swiftly extended as Rakshitha Sree and Malvika Bansod delivered clinical performances in the remaining singles matches, both winning in straight games without allowing their opponents any sustained momentum.

The doubles pairs then completed the sweep. Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra controlled proceedings in the second women’s doubles, while the experienced pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand closed out the tie with a dominant display in the top doubles match.

The comprehensive 5–0 victory not only secured India’s place in the quarterfinals but also reinforced their status as one of the tournament favourites.

Eyes on group supremacy

With qualification assured, both teams now turn their attention to topping their respective groups. The Indian women will face Thailand in their second group fixture, a clash that is expected to decide the Group Y winner and provide a clearer picture of India’s title credentials.

For the men, the opening-day result provides confidence but also highlights areas that need tightening ahead of tougher opposition. Narrow margins in doubles and the need to convert early advantages will be key talking points as the knockout stages approach. Still, the contrasting victories underlined India’s depth across both squads. Whether through dominant sweeps or gritty five-match battles, India demonstrated its ability to adapt to different challenges an encouraging sign as the Badminton Asia Team Championships move into their decisive phase.

With quarterfinal spots secured, the focus now shifts from survival to ambition, as both Indian teams aim to build momentum and push deeper into the continental championship.