Who is Ayush Shetty? The Indian who stunned Shi Yuqi at BWF World Championships
Indian badminton player Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest wins of his young career by defeating world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi in the first round of the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
Shetty won the exciting three-game match 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 after 73 minutes of intense competition. The victory is a major achievement for the 21-year-old Indian player and has brought him into the spotlight on the world badminton stage.
Shetty Makes a Strong Start
Shetty began the match with confidence and immediately put pressure on Shi Yuqi. He played aggressively, using powerful smashes while also defending well against the Chinese star’s attacks.
At the first game interval, Shetty had built a strong 11-5 lead. Shi tried to change the momentum with attacking shots and clever drop shots, but Shetty stayed focused and continued to control the rallies.
The Indian player maintained his advantage and eventually won the opening game 21-14.
Shi Yuqi Fights Back
The second game was very different. Shi Yuqi, who is known for his strong attacking game and experience at the highest level, came back strongly.
The Chinese player put more pressure on Shetty and controlled the pace of the rallies. Shetty struggled to maintain the same level of dominance he had shown in the first game.
Shi won the second game 21-13, bringing the match level at one game each and setting up a thrilling deciding game.
Dramatic Third Game
The third game became the most exciting part of the match. Shetty started strongly again and moved ahead 11-5 at the interval.
He continued to attack and created a big lead of 17-6. At that stage, Shetty appeared to be close to completing a major upset.
However, Shi refused to give up. The world No. 1 produced a remarkable comeback and reduced the gap with a series of strong attacking shots and accurate rallies.
The pressure increased as Shi moved closer to Shetty. The score eventually reached 19-20, leaving Shetty just one point away from victory.
Despite the pressure, Shetty remained calm. He won the next point and closed out the game 21-19, completing a memorable victory over the world No. 1.
A Major Moment for Indian Badminton
Defeating a player of Shi Yuqi’s quality at the World Championships is a major milestone for Shetty. The victory also shows the progress he has made in recent years.
Shetty has been developing into one of India’s promising young badminton players. His powerful attacking style, speed and ability to stay competitive during long rallies have helped him achieve several important results.
His victory over Shi is especially significant because the Chinese player entered the tournament as the world No. 1 and defending champion.
Early Life and Badminton Journey
Ayush Shetty was born on May 3, 2005, in Sanoor, Karnataka. His father introduced him to badminton when he was only eight years old.
As his interest and talent grew, his family moved to Bengaluru so that he could receive better training and compete at a higher level.
Shetty later trained at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, one of India’s well-known badminton training centres. His performances in junior and international tournaments helped him gain valuable experience.
In 2021, he won the Denmark Junior International title. He continued to improve over the next few years and began making his mark in senior-level competitions.
Rise Through International Tournaments
In 2023, Shetty reached the finals of both the Odisha Open Super 100 and the Bahrain International Challenge. These performances showed that he was ready to compete against stronger international opponents.
In 2024, he continued his progress by reaching the final of the Dutch Open.
The year 2025 became an important turning point in his career. Shetty won the US Open title after defeating Canada’s Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13 in straight games.
He also produced a strong performance at the Badminton Asia Championships earlier in 2026. Shetty became the first Indian man in 61 years to reach the tournament final.
On his way to the final, he defeated Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a thrilling semifinal. Shetty lost the first game 10-21 but fought back strongly to win the next two games 21-19, 21-17.
He eventually faced Shi Yuqi in the final and lost, but the experience gave him valuable confidence ahead of the World Championships.
Next Challenge
After his impressive victory over Shi Yuqi, Shetty will now turn his attention to the second round of the 2026 BWF World Championships.
He is scheduled to face Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama.
With confidence growing after defeating the world’s top-ranked player, Shetty will look to continue his run in New Delhi. His latest victory has already become an important moment in his young career and could mark the beginning of an even bigger journey in international badminton.