Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Two Indian mixed doubles pairs exit in first round
India endured a disappointing start in the mixed doubles competition at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 with both its pairs bowing out in the opening round in Ningbo, China on Tuesday.
Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani went down fighting against Malaysia’s eighth seeds Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie 13-21, 19-21 in a 34-minute contest at the Ningbo Olympic Centre.
The Indian duo struggled to find rhythm early on, conceding the first game comfortably, but showed signs of resistance in the second before the experienced Malaysian combination shut the door in straight games.
In another match, Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh also failed to cross the opening hurdle, losing 16-21, 15-21 to Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien in 31 minutes.
The Indian pair fought hard but was unable to sustain pressure at crucial junctures against their steady opponents.
India will look for a turnaround later in the day when Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto take on Thailand’s P. Horbanluekit and Benyapa Aimsaard in their opening round fixture.
The focus will shift to singles competition on Wednesday with India’s top stars, including P. V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, set to begin their campaigns.
Published on Apr 07, 2026