Kenta Nishimoto produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships 2026, knocking out in-form Frenchman Christo Popov in the opening round in New Delhi.
Nishimoto arrived at the tournament desperately searching for a breakthrough after failing to advance beyond the first round in his previous six events. But on badminton’s biggest stage, the experienced Japanese shuttler rediscovered his best form and halted Popov’s impressive campaign.
The result was particularly surprising given the contrasting form of the two players heading into the championships. Popov had enjoyed a superb season, winning the German Open, European Championships and Japan Open. Following the shock first-round exit of defending champion Shi Yu Qi, the Frenchman had appeared to be one of the leading contenders for the men’s singles title.
Instead, his World Championships campaign ended before he could build any momentum.
Nishimoto credited his experience and ability to control the pace of the match for helping him overcome the highly rated Frenchman.
“I had to play with good control as my opponent is very fast,” Nishimoto said. “I’m an experienced player, and that helped.”
Despite Popov’s disappointing result, the Frenchman refused to blame the pressure of being one of the tournament favourites. He admitted that Nishimoto simply performed better when it mattered most.
“It was a good fight, actually. Badminton-wise it wasn’t the best. I made a lot of mistakes,” Popov said.
He added that the match was finely balanced, with several crucial moments ultimately going Nishimoto’s way.
With Popov eliminated and Shi already out, the men’s singles draw has been thrown wide open, while Nishimoto suddenly finds himself with a major opportunity to make a deep run after ending his long run of early exits.
