India's badminton aspirations hinge on doubles teams following the exits of Sindhu and Ayush at the World Championships.

In a dramatic turn of events at the Badminton World Championships, India's singles campaign faced a disappointing conclusion as both P.V. Sindhu and Ayush Shetty exited the tournament in the pre-quarterfinals on Thursday. The day began with optimism but ended in heartbreak, leaving the hopes of the host nation resting on the shoulders of its doubles teams.

While Sindhu and Shetty struggled, the women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the quarterfinals, marking a significant achievement in their careers. They secured a convincing victory over Japan's Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, winning 21-16, 21-12. This victory not only propelled them into the last eight but also made them the first Indian women's doubles team to reach this stage since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa in 2015.

In contrast, Ayush Shetty faced a tough match against Indonesia's Alwi Farhan, ultimately losing 21-19, 21-11. Despite having previously defeated Farhan at the China Open, Shetty was unable to replicate that success, as the Indonesian player elevated his game significantly, leaving Shetty with few opportunities to capitalize on.

P.V. Sindhu's match against World No. 3 Wang Zhi Yi was a nail-biter that lasted 88 minutes. After losing the first game 21-11, Sindhu rallied to take the second 21-15, showcasing her resilience. However, in the deciding game, the two players exchanged leads until Wang, who had to take a medical timeout due to cramping, managed to close out the match 21-17. The match was characterized by intense rallies, with the longest lasting 54 shots, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

Earlier in the day, the men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, returning to competition after a three-month hiatus, faced a challenging match against Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap. After dropping the first game, they regrouped to win 21-19, 21-17, demonstrating their determination and skill in front of a supportive crowd.

As the tournament progresses, the Indian contingent will look to their doubles teams to carry the nation's hopes forward, following a day of mixed results that highlighted both the challenges and triumphs of the sport.