India’s Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of the BWF World Championships, stunning defending champion and world number one Shi Yu Qi of China in a thrilling three game battle in New Delhi. The 21 year old, ranked 22 in the world, held his nerve before a packed home crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium to complete a victory that has sent shockwaves through the men’s singles draw.
A giant killing on home soil
Shetty took the match 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a gripping 73 minute contest, eliminating the top seed and reigning world champion in the very first round. It was his first victory over Shi Yu Qi in four attempts, and it could not have come on a bigger stage.
The Indian began the match with intent, unleashing powerful smashes and sharp net play to control the opening game with surprising ease. He took it 21-14, and the home crowd, sensing an upset, roared their approval.
Shi Yu Qi, however, responded like the world number one he is. The Chinese star tightened his game in the second, exploiting Shetty’s struggles with cross court clears and capitalising on a series of unforced errors to level the match with a commanding 21-13 victory.
A nerve shredding decider
The third game was a test of character, and Shetty passed it superbly. He built an early lead, reaching the interval at 11-5, and then extended his advantage to what looked like an unassailable 16-5 lead, leaving Shi visibly frustrated.
But champions do not surrender easily. Shi Yu Qi fought back, trimming the deficit and raising the tension inside the arena. Shetty, for the first time, looked vulnerable, and the nerves that had been absent in the opening game began to surface.
Yet the 21 year old held firm when it mattered most. He reached match point at 20-15, and although Shi saved four match points to claw back to 20-19, Shetty summoned one final burst of composure to seal a monumental victory on his fifth opportunity.
Revenge for the Asia final
The victory carried an extra layer of satisfaction for Shetty, who had lost to Shi Yu Qi in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships earlier this year. That defeat, a one sided affair, had been a painful reminder of the gap between the two players. On Monday, Shetty closed that gap in the most emphatic fashion imaginable.
It was, in every sense, a coming of age performance. To beat the world number one, on home soil, in the first round of a World Championship, is the kind of result that can transform a career.
Shetty’s own words
After the match, Shetty reflected on the scale of his achievement with characteristic humility. “Playing Shi Yu Qi is definitely the toughest draw. Playing world number one is never easy,” he said. “Even if it’s the first round, I think it’s a tough one for both of us, and there were nervy moments. But yeah, happy to pull it off today.”
He ranked the victory as the finest of his career. “I would rank it as the top one. At home world championship debut, world number one. I think it’s a special win, and I think I’m super happy today,” he added.
The 21 year old credited the home crowd for giving him the extra energy when fatigue set in, describing the atmosphere as a decisive factor in the closing stages.
What it means for the tournament
Shetty’s victory has blown the men’s singles draw wide open. With the defending champion and top seed eliminated on day one, the path to the title suddenly looks far less certain, and the Indian contingent will sense a genuine opportunity.
Shetty now advances to the round of 32, where he will aim to build on this breakthrough. The win also serves as a statement to the rest of the field: on home soil, in front of these fans, the young Indian is a force to be reckoned with.
Elsewhere, PV Sindhu began her campaign with a comfortable straight games victory over Ireland’s Sophia Noble, winning 21-7, 21-11 to reach the round of 32. The Indian star, chasing a second world title, could hardly have asked for a smoother start.
A star in the making
For those who have followed Ayush Shetty’s rise, Monday’s result was a confirmation rather than a surprise. The young shuttler has long been tipped as one of India’s brightest talents, and this victory, against the very best in the world, is evidence that the hype is justified.
Indian badminton has enjoyed a golden generation, with the likes of Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and the doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty carrying the nation’s hopes. Ayush Shetty has now announced himself as the next name to add to that list.
The World Championships continue through the week, and the home crowd will return to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in full voice, buoyed by the belief that this could be a memorable tournament for Indian badminton. After Monday’s heroics, that belief feels more justified than ever.