Ratchanok beats Arin to reach BWF Worlds last 32
Ratchanok Intanon defeated Turkey’s Neslihan Arin 21-14, 21-10 in New Delhi to reach the BWF World Championships round of 32.
Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon made a convincing start to the BWF World Championships 2026 by defeating Turkey’s Neslihan Arin in straight games in New Delhi on Tuesday (August 18).
The former world champion won the women’s singles round-of-64 contest 21-14, 21-10 to book her place in the last 32.
Ratchanok established control in the opening game before pulling further clear in the second, limiting Arin to 10 points as she closed out the match without dropping a game.
Her victory sends her into the round of 32, which is scheduled for Wednesday (August 19).
World championships return to India after 17 years
The 30th BWF World Championships are being held from August 17-23 at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi.
The tournament marks the return of a major Grade 1 BWF event to India for the first time in 17 years, following the country’s previous staging of the world championships in 2009.
Players are competing in five disciplines: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
The championships carry the highest level of BWF world-ranking points, placing the event in the same top tier as the Olympic badminton competition.
The opening rounds take place on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the round of 32 on Wednesday and the round of 16 on Thursday. The quarter-finals will be held on Friday, the semi-finals on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.
Five more Thai matches scheduled for Tuesday
Five Thai entries are due to compete later on Tuesday, with all times listed in Thailand time.
Court 1
- 10.50pm, men’s singles: Viren Nettasinghe of Sri Lanka v Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand
Court 2
- 4.10pm, men’s doubles: Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia v Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul of Thailand
Court 3
- 4.10pm, women’s singles: Ranithma Liyanage of Sri Lanka v Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand
- 8pm, women’s doubles: Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan v Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan of Thailand
- 8.50pm, men’s singles: Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul of Thailand v Kalle Koljonen of Finland
