World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi will face a baptism of fire at the 2025 BWF World Championships in Paris (Aug 25–31), opening against India’s world No. 21 Lakshya Sen.
The Chinese ace, chasing his first world crown, could hardly have asked for a tougher first-round assignment as he meets a proven big-match player. Lakshya, 23, may have struggled for form this year but boasts an impressive big-stage record, including a bronze at the 2021 Worlds and a key role in India’s 2022 Thomas Cup triumph.
At last year’s Paris Olympics, Lakshya upset third seed Jonatan Christie in the group stage and narrowly missed a medal after losing to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze playoff.
Shi Yu Qi, however, holds a 3–1 career record over the Indian, winning their last three encounters since 2022. The 29-year-old enters the tournament in red-hot form, having won four World Tour titles this year — the Malaysia Open, All England, Japan Open, and China Open — and riding a 10-match winning streak.
Victory in Paris would end China’s men’s singles title drought dating back to 2015 and add his name to a legendary roll of champions including Lin Dan and Chen Long. His route beyond the first round looks smoother, with likely matchups against Le Duc Phat or Julien Carraggi in round two, Christo Popov or Angus Ng in the last 16, and possibly Alex Lanier or Weng Hong Yang in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere in the draw, home favourite Alex Lanier faces Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen in a tricky opener, while former world No. 2 Anthony Ginting meets France’s Toma Junior Popov in a rematch of last year’s Paris Olympics, where Popov emerged victorious.
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