The BWF World Championships are coming to New Delhi, and that means Indian fans will finally get to watch the world’s best up close instead of through a screen.
The tournament runs from August 17 to 23, and every big name arriving has their eyes on the title.
The home crowd will naturally bring support to India’s players, but there’s plenty happening on the other side of the draw too. Some of these names are defending champions, some are former world champions, and a few are still trying to turn strong recent form into a major title. Here are five international players and pairs who could end up shaping the entire tournament.
Top International Players to Watch at the BWF World Championships 2026
Shi Yu Qi, An Se Young, Akane Yamaguchi, Kunlavut Vitidsarn and the Korean men’s doubles pair of Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae all bring something different. Experience, recent form, and the ability to handle pressure could make them the ones everyone is still talking about once the finals are done.
1. Shi Yu Qi – Men (China)
Shi Yu Qi is one of the best players going around. The Chinese shuttler finally won the World Championships last year, and he comes to this tournament as the top seed and defending champion. The draw has been tricky. He will be up against India’s Ayush Shetty in the opening round. That’s a tricky start for any defending champion, especially with a loud home crowd behind Shetty. Shi will look to survive the early rounds and defend the title.
2. An Se Young – South Korea
An Se Young has a habit of making opponents earn every single point. Her movement and patience in long rallies have turned her into one of the hardest players to play against in women’s singles. She has already won the biggest titles, including Olympic gold, and comes into New Delhi as one of the clear favourites. With PV Sindhu and the other Indian players carrying heavy home expectations, the atmosphere here will feel different from what she’s used to.
3. Akane Yamaguchi – Japan
Akane Yamaguchi is a very consistent player at the World Championships. The Japanese star is a three-time world champion, and that kind of experience starts to matter when matches get tight and the pressure builds. She isn’t the player who blows opponents away with pure power. Her game is built on movement, timing, and the ability to keep finding answers when things get tricky.
4. Kunlavut Vitidsarn – Thailand
Kunlavut Vitidsarn has quietly become one of the biggest names in men’s singles, and he arrives in Delhi as the second seed. His game is all about patience and building points rather than trying to finish every rally early. That style makes him dangerous in long, physical matches. If he reaches the later stages, any clash with the top names could turn into one of the matches of the tournament.
5. Kim Won Ho & Seo Seung Jae – South Korea
The men’s doubles event has its own defending champions. Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae come to New Delhi as the reigning world champions. They won’t have an easy path. India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are seeded fifth and will have the entire arena behind them. With a strong field around them, the Korean pair will need to be at their sharpest if they want to leave Delhi with another world title.