2026 BWF World Championships Draw: Alwi Farhan Could Face the Defending Champion

The 2026 BWF World Championships draw has opened the possibility for a matchup between Indonesian men's singles shuttler Alwi Farhan and top seed defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China. This 2026 BWF World Championships will be hosted in New Delhi, India, running 17 to 23 August.

11th seeded Alwi will open his tournament campaign against South Korea's Yoo Tae-bin. If he successfully clears his first two matches, Alwi is projected to face Shi in the Round of 16.

Shi will begin his title defence against home nation representative Ayush Shetty.

This potential Alwi vs Shi clash stands as one of the most highlighted outcomes of the official draw.
Alwi previously defeated Shi with scoreline 21-16, 19-21, 21-14 during the Round of 16 at the 2026 Singapore Open.

That win carried the 21-year-old shuttler through to the quarter-finals of the BWF World Tour Super 750 event.

Jonatan Set For Kicklitz Rematch

In the men's singles bracket, 3rd seed Jonatan Christie has been drawn against familiar opposition Matthias Kicklitz of Germany.

The pair last met at the first round of the 2025 BWF World Championships in Paris, where Jonatan secured a straight games victory 21-15, 21-5.

Meanwhile, 6th seed Putri Kusuma Wardani will face Mikaela Joy De Guzman of the Philippines.

Putri enters the New Delhi tournament as bronze medallist of the 2025 BWF World Championships.

Fellow Indonesian women's singles athlete Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan will make her World Championships debut against Peru's Ines Lucia Castillo Salazar.

Five Indonesian Doubles Pairs Receive Bye To Round Of 32

Five Indonesian pairs were awarded a first round bye and will progress directly to the Round of 32.

For men's doubles, the pairs granted byes are 2nd seeds Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, 9th seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, and 12th seeds Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin.

Second seeded pair Fajar/Fikri are listed as one of Indonesia's primary medal hopes for the championships.

Two Indonesian women's doubles pairs also secured direct entry to the Round of 32: 12th seeds Rachel Allessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum and 13th seeds Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari.

Both of Indonesia's mixed doubles entries will meanwhile start their campaign from the opening first round.

Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah will face Turkish pair Emre Sonmez/Yasemen Bektas.

Marwan Faza/Aisyah Salsabila Putri Pranata have been drawn against Serbian pairing Mihajlo Tomic/Andjela Vitman.

Indonesia Fields 11 Representatives

Indonesia will send a total of 11 athletes to the 2026 BWF World Championships. This final squad count was reduced after pairs Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu and Adnan Maulana/Indah Cahya Sari Jamil confirmed their withdrawal from the tournament.

Indonesia is aiming to end their world title drought, having last won a World Championships crown through Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan at the 2019 edition in Basel, Switzerland.

2026 BWF World Championships Draw Results

Men's Singles
Jonatan Christie (3) vs Matthias Kicklitz (Germany)
Alwi Farhan (11) vs Yoo Tae-bin (South Korea)

Women's Singles
Putri Kusuma Wardani (6) vs Mikaela Joy De Guzman (Philippines)
Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan vs Ines Lucia Castillo Salazar (Peru)

Men's Doubles
Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (2) vs Bye
Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani (9) vs Bye
Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin (12) vs Bye

Women's Doubles
Rachel Allessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum (12) vs Bye
Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari (13) vs Bye

Mixed Doubles
Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah vs Emre Sonmez/Yasemen Bektas (Turkey)
Marwan Faza/Aisyah Salsabila Putri Pranata vs Mihajlo Tomic/Andjela Vitman (Serbia)