Simran Singhi makes World Championships debut at home in Delhi

Simran Singhi will make her Badminton World Championships debut at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, fulfilling a childhood dream. The 24-year-old, who will partner Kavipriya Selvam in women's doubles, faces the Spanish pair of Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jimenez in the opening round. 'It's incredible to make my World Championships debut, and it's even more special that it's happening in India,' she told Sportstar.

Singhi's journey to the world stage has been marked by setbacks. After winning the National Under-13 singles title three years in a row, her form faded as training partners moved away. She shifted to a Thane academy, enduring four to five hours of daily travel while balancing school, leading to doubts about her future in the sport. A switch to doubles revived her career. Singhi said she will miss Manoj Ramachandran, her childhood mentor who died last year and whom she called her 'second father'.

Singhi grew up in Mumbai's Goregaon neighbourhood alongside international players Shlok Ramachandran and Chirag Shetty. She discovered badminton by chance at a summer sports camp. Her mother and extended family from New Delhi will be in the stands to watch her debut.