New Delhi, Aug. 16 -- Indian badminton players Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda expressed excitement about competing at the BWF World Championships 2026 on home soil, with both players looking forward to the prestigious tournament in India.

The championships will be held from August 17-23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena, New Delhi. In one of the most exciting first-round matches, the Asian Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty will be pitted against defending champion and top seed Shi Yuqi of China.

Speaking to reporters, Shetty said the World Championships represented a major stage for players across the world and that hosting the event in India made it even more special for him.

"The World Championship is a really big tournament...