Ayush Shetty Stuns Shi Yu Qi at BWF World Championships

Ayush Shetty produced the biggest win of his young career on Monday, defeating defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in the first round of the BWF World Championships. The 21-year-old Indian described the result as “really special” but said his attention is already on the next challenge.

Shetty’s victory added another major name to a growing list of high-profile opponents he has beaten this year. The Mangaluru player had already reached the Badminton Asia Championships final in April, becoming India’s first men’s singles finalist at the event since 1965, before taking silver.

The win over Shi, however, came against the tournament’s defending champion and the world’s top-ranked player. It gives Shetty a significant early result in the World Championships while underlining the level he has reached in men’s singles.

Shetty survives late Shi Yu Qi comeback

Shetty made a strong start to the contest, taking the opening game 21-14. Shi responded in the second, levelling the match with a 21-13 game to force a decider.

The Indian then built what appeared to be a commanding lead in the final game, moving 10 points ahead at one stage. But Shi mounted a dramatic comeback, cutting the gap until he trailed by only one point at 20-19.

With the momentum shifting late in the match, Shetty said he had to manage his nerves and remain proactive. “I was telling myself to calm down,” he said. “I was getting a bit nervous because he was really catching up and the momentum was with him. Everything I did, he somehow managed to get through it. So I was just telling myself to calm down and be aggressive.”

Shetty converted the next point to complete the 21-19 deciding-game win. He said he had expected a demanding opening match and was satisfied with the way he handled it. “I knew it would be a really tough match and I really had to work very hard. I was mentally prepared physically as well,” he said.

He also credited guidance from his coach during the contest. “He told me to enjoy every point,” Shetty said, adding that the pair had a solid game plan and “somehow managed to pull it off.”

Discussing conditions, Shetty said the drift was less pronounced than it had been in training and did not make a major difference between ends. He noted that he made some unforced errors from the faster side, but said his high lifts and readiness in defence worked well when he was under pressure.

Focus remains on the next round

Shetty said the home support gave him an important lift when the match became difficult. “Definitely, it’s an energy booster for me,” he said of the crowd. “The way they were standing and supporting, I was super happy seeing everyone cheer for me and I think it gave me a lot of energy.”

Despite the scale of the victory, Shetty was measured in his assessment of what comes next. He said he is not looking ahead at possible opponents and is concentrating only on his next match.

“Everyone is super tough and men’s singles right now is really hard and I think I have to be at my best on all days,” Shetty said. While acknowledging the significance of winning at a World Championships being played at home, he made clear that he intends to stay focused. “I’m feeling great today. But I want to keep my head down and focus on the next round for now.”