The Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2026 has witnessed significant late changes to its main draw, with Indian shuttlers Tanvi Sharma, Tharun Mannepalli and the women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam earning promotion following the withdrawal of several top international players on the eve of the Super 750 tournament.
Among the most notable withdrawals is men’s singles world No. 1 and reigning world champion Shi Yu Qi, who pulled out after being forced to retire during the Malaysia Open 2026 final against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn on Sunday. Fellow Chinese men’s singles player Weng Hong Yang has also withdrawn, opening up additional spots in the main draw.
In women’s singles, third seed and reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi has withdrawn after retiring in her Malaysia Open quarterfinal against PV Sindhu. South Korea’s Sim Yu Jin has also pulled out, creating an opportunity for India’s Tanvi Sharma to make a landmark entry into the main draw of the India Open.
Big opportunity for Tanvi Sharma
Sixteen-year-old Tanvi Sharma, the reigning World Junior Championships silver medallist, will now make her India Open debut at the highest level. Her promotion places her straight into a challenging opening-round clash against second seed Wang Zhi Yi of China. While the draw presents a steep test, it also offers a rare opportunity for the young Indian to measure herself against one of the world’s best.
Should Tanvi manage a major upset in the first round, she could potentially face PV Sindhu in the second round, setting up a compelling all-Indian encounter and underlining the generational depth in Indian women’s singles.
Tharun Mannepalli’s promotion from the reserve list has further strengthened India’s presence in the men’s singles draw. His elevation ensures two all-Indian clashes in the opening round, a rarity at Super 750 events.
While Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty are set to face each other in one marquee domestic contest, Tharun will take on experienced campaigner Kidambi Srikanth in the opening round. For Tharun, the matchup represents an opportunity to test his progress against a former world No. 1, while Srikanth will be keen to assert his experience and begin his campaign with authority.
Malaysia’s Justin Hoh has also been promoted into the men’s singles main draw following the withdrawals.
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India’s women’s doubles contingent has also benefited from the late changes. National champions Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam have been promoted into the main draw after the withdrawal of China’s Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian. Ashwini and Shikha will face France’s Margot Lambert and Camille Pognante in the opening round. With several top pairs absent, the Indian duo will view this as an important opportunity to gain valuable Super 750 exposure and ranking points on home soil.
In the men’s doubles category, Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai have been promoted following the withdrawal of Korea’s Kim Gi Jung and Kim Sa Rang.
Revised list of withdrawals and promotions
Withdrawals
Men’s singles: Shi Yu Qi (CHN), Weng Hong Yang (CHN)
Women’s singles: Akane Yamaguchi (JPN), Sim Yu Jin (KOR)
Men’s doubles: Kim Gi Jung / Kim Sa Rang (KOR)
Women’s doubles: Jia Yi Fan / Zhang Shu Xian (CHN)
Promotions
Men’s singles: Justin Hoh (MAS), Tharun Mannepalli (IND)
Women’s singles: Huang Yu-Hsun (TPE), Tanvi Sharma (IND)
Men’s doubles: Kang Khai Xing / Aaron Tai (MAS)
Women’s doubles: Ashwini Bhat K / Shikha Gautam (IND)
With multiple late withdrawals reshaping the draw, the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2026 now presents expanded opportunities for Indian players across categories.
For emerging talents like Tanvi Sharma and Tharun Mannepalli, the sudden elevation offers not just main-draw entry, but a chance to make a statement on one of the biggest stages on the BWF World Tour.
