The withdrawals could pave the way for a possible entry for fifth reserve Tanvi Sharma and third reserve Kidambi Srikanth to enter the singles draws. (File Photo)A spurt of withdrawals at the Delhi Badminton World Championships are expected to be announced on Sunday, paving the way possibly for fifth reserve Tanvi Sharma and third reserve Kidambi Srikanth to enter the singles draws for the event starting Monday.Mixed doubles pairing sith Surya and Amrutha P could also find themselves in the draw with multiple withdrawals expected to be announced. The draws could also undergo a few changes in case of withdrawals by seeded players.Japanese men’s doubles pair of Takuro Hoki and Kobayashi are certain to have withdrawn after confirmation from the Badminton Association of Japan. A Taiwanese pair’s withdrawal led to the invitations going out to Amruta-Surya.ALSO READ | How periods became a live issue at badminton World Championships in DelhiThe likes of junior World championship silver medallist Tanvi Sharma and senior silver winner from 2021, Kidambi Srikanth are on stand-by. Sharma is also travelling to Delhi on Sunday, with official confirmations coming through after the managers’ meetings.Others like HS Prannoy, Ashmita Chaliha, Rakshitha Ramraj could also be in contention depending on number of pull outs.ALSO READ | Badminton Worlds 2026: Delhi hotels swap rice for kanji to host shuttlersStory continues below this adWhile seeded player withdrawals need to be adjusted to avoid lopsided draws, it could also throw opponent-centric preparations into disarray given the expected churn. “Not big names but seeded players are on the list of withdrawals,” a person aware of the developments noted.This is the second time that India is hosting the badminton World Championships, with the last one being the 2009 edition at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. The hosts have 10 entries thus far, of whom three – PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty – are former medal winners. Sindhu herself has won as many as five medals, the last of which was the historic gold she won at the 2019 World Championships in Basel, Switzerland. Lakshya won bronze at Huelva 2021 while Satwik-Chirag won bronze at Tokyo 2022 and at Paris last year.Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More Tags:Badminton World Championship