India’s badminton campaign at the World Championships in New Delhi has produced contrasting results, with PV Sindhu advancing to the round of 16 while Lakshya Sen suffered a shock second-round exit.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, India’s only badminton world champion after winning the 2019 title, defeated Canada’s Michelle Li 21-16, 21-17 in 34 minutes. Sindhu, a ninth seed and five-time World Championships medallist, will now face a tough challenge against third seed Wang Zhiyi of China.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty continued his impressive run with a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka’s Viran Kumara, keeping India’s hopes alive in the draw.

However, home favourite Lakshya Sen suffered a major upset in the round of 32. The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist was defeated by 18-year-old American Alex Lanier in a dramatic three-game contest.

With Lakshya out, Ayush Shetty is now India’s only remaining men’s singles player at the tournament.

PV Sindhu Reaches World Championships Round Of 16 As Lakshya Sen Suffers Shock Exit

Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships, defeating World No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yu Qi in a thrilling three-game contest. Shetty showcased remarkable composure and attacking play to secure a memorable victory, boosting India's hopes in the tournament and announcing himself on badminton’s biggest stage.


India’s Ayush Shetty shocks world no. 1 Shi Yu Qi 

India's Ayush Shetty started the ongoing BWF Badminton World Championships in style, beating top seed Shi Yu Qi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in Round of 64 on Monday (Aug 17) at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. Shetty was the underdog in the match but kept his composure to overcome the world number 1 player to make a place in the Round of 32. Shetty was clinical in the first set before jitters took over in the second set which he lost. The third set went down to the wire which Shetty won by two points to claim a place in the next round.<h2>How Shetty overcame Yu Qi challenge?</h2><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/Z9uXh8fnOnY?si=JbgNSpJeSKiW0Dkj">Speaking to the Badminton Association of India's YouTube channel</a> after the win, Shetty's long time coach Sagar Chopda, explained how the shuttler planned his game to beat number 1 Yu Qi.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-2026-ayush-shetty-upsets-reigning-world-champion-shi-yuqi-in-opening-match-pv-sindhu-wins-1786975359842">BWF World Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty upsets reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in opening match; PV Sindhu wins</a>"He used his net shots really well. From the back of the court, he was not in a hurry to hit those hard smashes. He has been very erratic with that shot. So the main thing that we told him was to expect high lifts from Shi. And don't get hassled by taking that jump and hitting it," explained Chopda."He used that really, really well. He mixed his clears because he was playing from the better side. So he used his clears and lifts very well, opening up the court. Overall, it was 10-on-10 in the first game. There was never an ounce of doubt in his shots. Coach Irwansyah has been helping him tactically. And they had a long chat yesterday. If you also look at Ayush's defence today, Shi is one of the best players in the world to have variations from everywhere. From the back of the court, from the net. So Ayush was ready for it. He was really good with his defence," he added.<h2>What next for Ayush Shetty?</h2>After overcoming his biggest challenge in first round itself, Shetty now faces Sri Lanka's Abeywickrama in the Round of 32 of men's singles on Wednesday (Aug 19). After the sensational win in the Round of 64, he's expected to move further in the competition without much trouble.

Shetty was the underdog in the match but kept his composure to overcome the world number 1 player to make a place in the Round of 32 with a 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 win over top seed Shi Yu Qi.

India's Ayush Shetty started the ongoing BWF Badminton World Championships in style, beating top seed Shi Yu Qi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in Round of 64 on Monday (Aug 17) at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. Shetty was the underdog in the match but kept his composure to overcome the world number 1 player to make a place in the Round of 32. Shetty was clinical in the first set before jitters took over in the second set which he lost. The third set went down to the wire which Shetty won by two points to claim a place in the next round. How Shetty overcame Yu Qi challenge? Speaking to the Badminton Association of India's YouTube channel after the win, Shetty's long time coach Sagar Chopda, explained how the shuttler planned his game to beat number 1 Yu Qi. Also Read - BWF World Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty upsets reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in opening match; PV Sindhu wins "He used his net shots really well. From the back of the court, he was not in a hurry to hit those hard smashes. He has been very erratic with that shot. So the main thing that we told him was to expect high lifts from Shi. And don't get hassled by taking that jump and hitting it," explained Chopda. "He used that really, really well. He mixed his clears because he was playing from the better side. So he used his clears and lifts very well, opening up the court. Overall, it was 10-on-10 in the first game. There was never an ounce of doubt in his shots. Coach Irwansyah has been helping him tactically. And they had a long chat yesterday. If you also look at Ayush's defence today, Shi is one of the best players in the world to have variations from everywhere. From the back of the court, from the net. So Ayush was ready for it. He was really good with his defence," he added. What next for Ayush Shetty? After overcoming his biggest challenge in first round itself, Shetty now faces Sri Lanka's Abeywickrama in the Round of 32 of men's singles on Wednesday (Aug 19). After the sensational win in the Round of 64, he's expected to move further in the competition without much trouble.

Shetty was the underdog in the match but kept his composure to overcome the world number 1 player to make a place in the Round of 32 with a 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 win over top seed Shi Yu Qi.

BWF World Championships 2026: How Ayush Shetty overcame Shi Yu Qi challenge in Round of 64

Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of his young career, defeating reigning world champion and world no. 1 Shi Yuqi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a thrilling Round of 64 clash at the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi on Monday (August 17). Roared on by a packed crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Shetty played with remarkable confidence against the defending champion. The Indian youngster attacked aggressively from the start, making sharp moves at the net, taking the shuttle early and using his powerful smashes to control the opening game 21-14.&nbsp;The victory marked a stunning turnaround from their previous meeting in the Badminton Asia Championships final, where Shi dominated the contest and finished the match in just 40 minutes. Shi responded strongly in the second game, building a 15-11 lead before closing it out 21-13 to level the match and force a decider. The final game was a tense battle. Shetty established an early 11-5 advantage at the changeover, but Shi fought back relentlessly and narrowed the gap as the pressure mounted.&nbsp;With the home crowd firmly behind him, Shetty kept his composure during the crucial closing points. He held his nerve to win the decider 21-19 and complete a stunning three-game victory. The result marks a huge World Championships upset, with Shetty knocking out both the world no. 1 and the defending champion in emphatic fashion.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-suthar-jadeja-star-as-sri-lanka-bowled-out-for-284-india-lead-by-178-1786969216063">IND vs SL, 1st Test: Suthar, Jadeja star as Sri Lanka bowled out for 284, India lead by 178</a>&nbsp;Earlier in the day, Indian badminton star PV Sindhu made a strong start to the 2026 BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, defeating Ireland’s Sophia Noble in straight games, 21-7, 21-11, in the women’s singles Round of 64. Playing in front of the home crowd, Sindhu dominated from the outset with precise drop shots and powerful smashes. Noble struggled to match her pace and attacking intensity as Sindhu comfortably took the opening game. The Indian continued her control in the second, fending off Noble’s attempts to fight back and sealing a convincing victory.&nbsp;With the win, Sindhu advanced to the Round of 32, where she will face Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang on Tuesday. The victory also adds to her remarkable World Championships record. Sindhu has now won five medals at the tournament, one gold, two silver and two bronze, matching China’s Zhang Ning for the most women’s singles medals in World Championships history.&nbsp;In the women’s doubles, Indian pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also began their campaign with a comfortable victory. The World No. 19 duo defeated Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez 21-9, 21-13 in just over 30 minutes.Treesa and Gayatri controlled the contest from the beginning, with Treesa’s powerful smashes and Gayatri’s quick play at the net proving effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Spanish pair showed some resistance in the second game, but the Indians maintained their composure and led 11-7 at the interval before pulling away after the break. Treesa and Gayatri will meet American pair Lauren Lam and Allison Lee in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.

Ayush Shetty stuns Shi Yuqi at the 2026 BWF World Championships, while PV Sindhu and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand advance in New Delhi

Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of his young career, defeating reigning world champion and world no. 1 Shi Yuqi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a thrilling Round of 64 clash at the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi on Monday (August 17). Roared on by a packed crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Shetty played with remarkable confidence against the defending champion. The Indian youngster attacked aggressively from the start, making sharp moves at the net, taking the shuttle early and using his powerful smashes to control the opening game 21-14. The victory marked a stunning turnaround from their previous meeting in the Badminton Asia Championships final, where Shi dominated the contest and finished the match in just 40 minutes. Shi responded strongly in the second game, building a 15-11 lead before closing it out 21-13 to level the match and force a decider. The final game was a tense battle. Shetty established an early 11-5 advantage at the changeover, but Shi fought back relentlessly and narrowed the gap as the pressure mounted. With the home crowd firmly behind him, Shetty kept his composure during the crucial closing points. He held his nerve to win the decider 21-19 and complete a stunning three-game victory. The result marks a huge World Championships upset, with Shetty knocking out both the world no. 1 and the defending champion in emphatic fashion. Also Read: IND vs SL, 1st Test: Suthar, Jadeja star as Sri Lanka bowled out for 284, India lead by 178 Earlier in the day, Indian badminton star PV Sindhu made a strong start to the 2026 BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, defeating Ireland’s Sophia Noble in straight games, 21-7, 21-11, in the women’s singles Round of 64. Playing in front of the home crowd, Sindhu dominated from the outset with precise drop shots and powerful smashes. Noble struggled to match her pace and attacking intensity as Sindhu comfortably took the opening game. The Indian continued her control in the second, fending off Noble’s attempts to fight back and sealing a convincing victory. With the win, Sindhu advanced to the Round of 32, where she will face Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang on Tuesday. The victory also adds to her remarkable World Championships record. Sindhu has now won five medals at the tournament, one gold, two silver and two bronze, matching China’s Zhang Ning for the most women’s singles medals in World Championships history. In the women’s doubles, Indian pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also began their campaign with a comfortable victory. The World No. 19 duo defeated Spain’s Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez 21-9, 21-13 in just over 30 minutes. Treesa and Gayatri controlled the contest from the beginning, with Treesa’s powerful smashes and Gayatri’s quick play at the net proving effective. The Spanish pair showed some resistance in the second game, but the Indians maintained their composure and led 11-7 at the interval before pulling away after the break. Treesa and Gayatri will meet American pair Lauren Lam and Allison Lee in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.

Ayush Shetty stunned world no. 1 Shi Yuqi, while PV Sindhu and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand advanced with wins at the 2026 BWF World Championships

BWF World Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty upsets reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in opening match; PV Sindhu wins

Ayush Shetty is not interested in measuring himself against the legends who came before him. As he prepares to make his BWF World Championships debut on home soil, the young Indian shuttler is instead focused on carving out a legacy of his own. “I think I don't see it as a benchmark to chase. I think I would like to set my own benchmark,” Ayush said ahead of the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi.&nbsp;The challenge awaiting Ayush could hardly be bigger. Drawn against world no. 1 Shi Yuqi in the opening round, the Indian knows he will have little room for error. However, rather than being overwhelmed by the prospect, Ayush insists he was prepared for whoever came his way after entering the draw as an unseeded player. “I was ready to face anyone as I was unseeded. So I think I was prepared to even play the world number one,” he said, describing his immediate reaction to the draw as simply treating it as “another match”, albeit one that promises to be a “really tough battle.”&nbsp;The matchup is not unfamiliar territory for Ayush. He has faced Shi Yuqi multiple times, including at the Asian Championships, where he suffered a defeat. But there is no talk of revenge. Instead, Ayush believes those previous encounters have given him valuable information that can help him approach the World Championships clash differently.“I think there’s no revenge kind of emotion. But I think it’s a new tournament,” he said. “I’m not really thinking about my loss at the Asian Championship. But definitely, I’ll be analysing my match. And I think I’ll be more prepared.”&nbsp;For Ayush, the biggest difference this time will be tactical preparation. He feels his experience on the senior circuit has helped him bridge the gap against the world's leading players. When he first stepped into senior badminton, matching the pace of top-20 opponents was a major challenge. Now, he believes he has adapted. “I think now, I’ve adapted to it. I think I can push them, play at their pace. I think I’m more confident now,” Ayush said.&nbsp;That growing confidence has also been reflected in his approach on court. Ayush admitted that his natural style has traditionally been more laid-back, but he has consciously worked on becoming more aggressive and expressive. “I think I’ve been trying to be more aggressive. I think it helps me get more energy,” he said. “My natural style would be a bit more laid back, not express much. But I think I’ve been trying more things, like to be more aggressive on court.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-india-vs-pakistan-medal-match-1786558131039">Asian Games 2026: No India-Pakistan cricket match unless it’s for the medal</a>&nbsp;The changes have extended beyond his on-court body language. Ayush said his preparations for the World Championships have targeted every aspect of his game, with a particular focus on physical conditioning, tactics, speed, agility and accuracy. His work with coach has also brought a more demanding training regime. “I think the training has been a lot tougher… We have been training really long as well,” Ayush said, adding that the focus has been on becoming “much more faster, much more agile” and playing more aggressively.&nbsp;The World Championships will also carry an added emotional significance for Ayush. India is hosting the tournament, and he will make his global debut in front of the home crowd. He accepts that comes with pressure, but believes the excitement outweighs it. “I think it’s both. There is pressure. But I think it’s more of an excitement, playing at home. I think it’s a really special feeling,” he said. Rather than looking too far ahead, Ayush is taking a match-by-match approach. His immediate focus remains the opening-round battle, with little thought being given to potential opponents in the later stages.&nbsp;“Right now, the main focus is on the first round,” he said. “I’m not thinking much about who is coming next. So, yeah, our focus has been more on the first round.” And while the history of Indian badminton at the World Championships provides inspiration, Ayush does not want it to become a burden. He wants to enjoy his debut, compete on his own terms and build his own story. “I think I would enjoy the game,” he said. “Since it’s at home, I think there is pressure definitely. But I think it’s a great opportunity for me to debut at the World Championship in India. I think I see it as a really special tournament.”&nbsp;For the youngster who started playing badminton at the age of eight after watching his father, the journey has now reached a defining stage. His philosophy remains remarkably simple: improve every day, trust the process and enjoy the sport. “I focus more on myself, getting better every day… believing in the process. And just enjoying playing badminton. I think that’s been my motto all along.” Now, with the world's biggest badminton stage waiting and the home crowd behind him, Ayush Shetty has a chance to begin writing his own chapter, one that he hopes will eventually become a benchmark for the generation that follows.

Ayush Shetty opens up on his BWF World Championships debut, facing world no. 1, home pressure, preparation and his ambition to set his own benchmark

Ayush Shetty is not interested in measuring himself against the legends who came before him. As he prepares to make his BWF World Championships debut on home soil, the young Indian shuttler is instead focused on carving out a legacy of his own. “I think I don't see it as a benchmark to chase. I think I would like to set my own benchmark,” Ayush said ahead of the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi. The challenge awaiting Ayush could hardly be bigger. Drawn against world no. 1 Shi Yuqi in the opening round, the Indian knows he will have little room for error. However, rather than being overwhelmed by the prospect, Ayush insists he was prepared for whoever came his way after entering the draw as an unseeded player. “I was ready to face anyone as I was unseeded. So I think I was prepared to even play the world number one,” he said, describing his immediate reaction to the draw as simply treating it as “another match”, albeit one that promises to be a “really tough battle.” The matchup is not unfamiliar territory for Ayush. He has faced Shi Yuqi multiple times, including at the Asian Championships, where he suffered a defeat. But there is no talk of revenge. Instead, Ayush believes those previous encounters have given him valuable information that can help him approach the World Championships clash differently. “I think there’s no revenge kind of emotion. But I think it’s a new tournament,” he said. “I’m not really thinking about my loss at the Asian Championship. But definitely, I’ll be analysing my match. And I think I’ll be more prepared.” For Ayush, the biggest difference this time will be tactical preparation. He feels his experience on the senior circuit has helped him bridge the gap against the world's leading players. When he first stepped into senior badminton, matching the pace of top-20 opponents was a major challenge. Now, he believes he has adapted. “I think now, I’ve adapted to it. I think I can push them, play at their pace. I think I’m more confident now,” Ayush said. That growing confidence has also been reflected in his approach on court. Ayush admitted that his natural style has traditionally been more laid-back, but he has consciously worked on becoming more aggressive and expressive. “I think I’ve been trying to be more aggressive. I think it helps me get more energy,” he said. “My natural style would be a bit more laid back, not express much. But I think I’ve been trying more things, like to be more aggressive on court.” Also Read: Asian Games 2026: No India-Pakistan cricket match unless it’s for the medal The changes have extended beyond his on-court body language. Ayush said his preparations for the World Championships have targeted every aspect of his game, with a particular focus on physical conditioning, tactics, speed, agility and accuracy. His work with coach has also brought a more demanding training regime. “I think the training has been a lot tougher… We have been training really long as well,” Ayush said, adding that the focus has been on becoming “much more faster, much more agile” and playing more aggressively. The World Championships will also carry an added emotional significance for Ayush. India is hosting the tournament, and he will make his global debut in front of the home crowd. He accepts that comes with pressure, but believes the excitement outweighs it. “I think it’s both. There is pressure. But I think it’s more of an excitement, playing at home. I think it’s a really special feeling,” he said. Rather than looking too far ahead, Ayush is taking a match-by-match approach. His immediate focus remains the opening-round battle, with little thought being given to potential opponents in the later stages. “Right now, the main focus is on the first round,” he said. “I’m not thinking much about who is coming next. So, yeah, our focus has been more on the first round.” And while the history of Indian badminton at the World Championships provides inspiration, Ayush does not want it to become a burden. He wants to enjoy his debut, compete on his own terms and build his own story. “I think I would enjoy the game,” he said. “Since it’s at home, I think there is pressure definitely. But I think it’s a great opportunity for me to debut at the World Championship in India. I think I see it as a really special tournament.” For the youngster who started playing badminton at the age of eight after watching his father, the journey has now reached a defining stage. His philosophy remains remarkably simple: improve every day, trust the process and enjoy the sport. “I focus more on myself, getting better every day… believing in the process. And just enjoying playing badminton. I think that’s been my motto all along.” Now, with the world's biggest badminton stage waiting and the home crowd behind him, Ayush Shetty has a chance to begin writing his own chapter, one that he hopes will eventually become a benchmark for the generation that follows.

Ayush Shetty is ready for his BWF World Championships debut, embracing the challenge of facing the world no. 1 and aiming to set his own benchmark

'No fear, no revenge': Ayush Shetty’s mindset ahead Of BWF World Championships blockbuster match

India's medal contenders got a mixed draw for the BWF World Championships 2026, set to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi from August 17 to 23. The biggest opening-round contest features Asian Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty, who faces defending champion and world no. 1 Shi Yuqi of China. Former world champion PV Sindhu starts her campaign against Ireland's Sophia Nobel, currently ranked world no. 141, while Lakshya Sen will take on Austria's Collins Valentine Filimon in the men's singles first round. If he advances, Lakshya could meet second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the pre-quarterfinals.&nbsp;India's top men's doubles pair, fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have received a first-round bye. They will open their campaign against either Scotland's Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle or Thailand's Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn and Worrapol Thongsa-Nga. India is hosting the BWF World Championships for the first time in 17 years. The official draw ceremony was held in New Delhi on Wednesday. Badminton Association of India General Secretary Sanjay Mishra revealed that more than ₹20 crore has been invested in upgrading the Indira Gandhi Multipurpose Indoor Stadium, expressing confidence that the event would set new benchmarks for world badminton.&nbsp;All eyes will be on PV Sindhu, who heads into the tournament in strong form after winning the Japan Open last month. Sindhu has avoided world no. 1 An Se Young of South Korea and defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan until the later stages. However, she is projected to face third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China in the pre-quarterfinals, with a possible quarterfinal clash against Indonesia's Putri Wardani. For Satwik and Chirag, a potential round-of-16 meeting against Indonesia's Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, finalists at the Indonesia Open earlier this year, could be their first significant challenge.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/viv-richards-calls-for-truce-between-wi-coach-sammy-and-pacer-alzaari-joseph-1785999655674">Viv Richards calls for truce between WI coach Sammy and pacer Alzaari Joseph</a>&nbsp;Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand described the men's singles field as one of the most competitive in recent years. He believes Ayush Shetty's aggressive style could make his opening-round clash against Shi Yuqi more competitive than if the two met later in the tournament. Ayush has lost all three previous meetings against Shi but has pushed the Chinese star in their recent encounters, offering hope of a strong performance.&nbsp;In women's singles, Unnati Hooda will face Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar in the opening round and could meet 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada next. India's 15th-seeded mixed doubles pair, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, also received a first-round bye and are likely to meet China's sixth-seeded duo Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui in the round of 16. Another Indian mixed doubles pair, Rohan Kapoor and G Ruthvika Shivani, begin against Canada's Jonathan Lai and Crystal Lai, with top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping potentially awaiting them in the second round.&nbsp;In women's doubles, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly will open against Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez. If successful, they are expected to face 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Lee of the United States. Debutants Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam take on Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jimenez in the opening round. A win would set up a meeting with five-time European champions Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva. India's other men's doubles pair, MR Arjun and Hariharan, begin their campaign against Ireland's Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds.

 BWF World Championships 2026 draw sees Ayush Shetty face Shi Yuqi, while PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag and other Indian shuttlers begin their medal quest in New Delhi

India's medal contenders got a mixed draw for the BWF World Championships 2026, set to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi from August 17 to 23. The biggest opening-round contest features Asian Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty, who faces defending champion and world no. 1 Shi Yuqi of China. Former world champion PV Sindhu starts her campaign against Ireland's Sophia Nobel, currently ranked world no. 141, while Lakshya Sen will take on Austria's Collins Valentine Filimon in the men's singles first round. If he advances, Lakshya could meet second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the pre-quarterfinals. India's top men's doubles pair, fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have received a first-round bye. They will open their campaign against either Scotland's Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle or Thailand's Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn and Worrapol Thongsa-Nga. India is hosting the BWF World Championships for the first time in 17 years. The official draw ceremony was held in New Delhi on Wednesday. Badminton Association of India General Secretary Sanjay Mishra revealed that more than ₹20 crore has been invested in upgrading the Indira Gandhi Multipurpose Indoor Stadium, expressing confidence that the event would set new benchmarks for world badminton. All eyes will be on PV Sindhu, who heads into the tournament in strong form after winning the Japan Open last month. Sindhu has avoided world no. 1 An Se Young of South Korea and defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan until the later stages. However, she is projected to face third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China in the pre-quarterfinals, with a possible quarterfinal clash against Indonesia's Putri Wardani. For Satwik and Chirag, a potential round-of-16 meeting against Indonesia's Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, finalists at the Indonesia Open earlier this year, could be their first significant challenge. Also Read: Viv Richards calls for truce between WI coach Sammy and pacer Alzaari Joseph Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand described the men's singles field as one of the most competitive in recent years. He believes Ayush Shetty's aggressive style could make his opening-round clash against Shi Yuqi more competitive than if the two met later in the tournament. Ayush has lost all three previous meetings against Shi but has pushed the Chinese star in their recent encounters, offering hope of a strong performance. In women's singles, Unnati Hooda will face Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar in the opening round and could meet 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada next. India's 15th-seeded mixed doubles pair, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, also received a first-round bye and are likely to meet China's sixth-seeded duo Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui in the round of 16. Another Indian mixed doubles pair, Rohan Kapoor and G Ruthvika Shivani, begin against Canada's Jonathan Lai and Crystal Lai, with top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping potentially awaiting them in the second round. In women's doubles, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly will open against Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez. If successful, they are expected to face 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Lee of the United States. Debutants Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam take on Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Jimenez in the opening round. A win would set up a meeting with five-time European champions Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva. India's other men's doubles pair, MR Arjun and Hariharan, begin their campaign against Ireland's Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds.

Ayush Shetty faces world champion Shi Yuqi as PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and India's top doubles pairs got to know their BWF Worlds 2026 draws

BWF World Championships 2026 draw: Ayush Shetty to face Shi Yuqi in first round; PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen get easy opener

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu fought hard to beat fellow Indian teenager Unnati Hooda and move into the second round of the China Open, while Ayush Shetty stunned world No. 11 Alwi Farhan in a major first-round upset on Wednesday. Fresh from ending her two-year title drought by winning the Japan Open last week, Sindhu secured a 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 victory in a 56-minute women’s singles match.&nbsp;The opening game was closely contested, with both players level at 7-7. Sindhu then took control by winning five straight points to open a 12-8 lead and comfortably claimed the game 21-14.&nbsp;Unnati bounced back strongly in the second game. After the score was tied at 2-2, she moved ahead 6-3 and then won six consecutive points to stretch her lead to 12-4. Sindhu struggled to regain momentum as Unnati dominated the game and won it 21-9 to force a deciding game.&nbsp;Sindhu responded in style in the final game. After a tight start, she built a 10-5 lead, extended it to 15-8 and finished the match with a convincing 21-10 win to book her place in the round of 16 of the BWF Super 1000 event.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/glasgow-2026-commonwealth-games-opening-ceremony-date-time-performers-all-you-need-to-know-1784726628268">Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony: Date, time, performers &amp; all you need to know</a>&nbsp;Sindhu will now take on fourth seed and home favourite Chen Yufei, whom she defeated in straight games in the Japan Open semifinals last week. Chen has a slight 8-7 advantage in their head-to-head record.&nbsp;In the men’s singles, Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest surprises of the opening round by defeating Indonesia’s world No. 11 and former world junior champion Alwi Farhan 17-21, 21-5, 21-17 in a thrilling 57-minute contest.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-odi-rankings-joe-root-jumps-big-india-trio-close-in-on-no-1-spot-1784722222951">ICC ODI Rankings: Joe Root jumps big, India trio close in on No. 1 spot</a>&nbsp;After dropping the opening game, Ayush bounced back with a dominant display in the second round before holding his nerve to win the decider 21-17 and seal a memorable victory.&nbsp;Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun were beaten 16-21, 7-21 by China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in less than 30 minutes.&nbsp;In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani lost 9-21, 16-21 to top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also crashed out after suffering an 18-21, 18-21 defeat against fifth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui of China.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu advanced to the next round of the China Open after overcoming a tough challenge from Unnati Hooda, while Ayush Shetty pulled off a major upset by defeating world No. 11 Alwi Farhan.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu fought hard to beat fellow Indian teenager Unnati Hooda and move into the second round of the China Open, while Ayush Shetty stunned world No. 11 Alwi Farhan in a major first-round upset on Wednesday. Fresh from ending her two-year title drought by winning the Japan Open last week, Sindhu secured a 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 victory in a 56-minute women’s singles match. The opening game was closely contested, with both players level at 7-7. Sindhu then took control by winning five straight points to open a 12-8 lead and comfortably claimed the game 21-14. Unnati bounced back strongly in the second game. After the score was tied at 2-2, she moved ahead 6-3 and then won six consecutive points to stretch her lead to 12-4. Sindhu struggled to regain momentum as Unnati dominated the game and won it 21-9 to force a deciding game. Sindhu responded in style in the final game. After a tight start, she built a 10-5 lead, extended it to 15-8 and finished the match with a convincing 21-10 win to book her place in the round of 16 of the BWF Super 1000 event. Also Read - Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony: Date, time, performers & all you need to know Sindhu will now take on fourth seed and home favourite Chen Yufei, whom she defeated in straight games in the Japan Open semifinals last week. Chen has a slight 8-7 advantage in their head-to-head record. In the men’s singles, Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest surprises of the opening round by defeating Indonesia’s world No. 11 and former world junior champion Alwi Farhan 17-21, 21-5, 21-17 in a thrilling 57-minute contest. Also Read - ICC ODI Rankings: Joe Root jumps big, India trio close in on No. 1 spot After dropping the opening game, Ayush bounced back with a dominant display in the second round before holding his nerve to win the decider 21-17 and seal a memorable victory. Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun were beaten 16-21, 7-21 by China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in less than 30 minutes. In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani lost 9-21, 16-21 to top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China. Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also crashed out after suffering an 18-21, 18-21 defeat against fifth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui of China. With inputs from agencies

PV Sindhu advanced to the next round of the China Open after overcoming a tough challenge from Unnati Hooda, while Ayush Shetty pulled off a major upset by defeating world No. 11 Alwi Farhan.

China Open: PV Sindhu survives Unnati Hooda challenge, Ayush Shetty upsets World No. 11

India suffered a disappointing day at the Japan Open 2026 as Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda and Lakshya Sen were all knocked out in the opening round in Tokyo on Wednesday (Jul 15). Ayush Shetty put up a strong fight against second seed and former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn but lost 19-21, 25-23, 15-21 in a hard-fought men’s singles match that lasted 82 minutes.&nbsp;World No. 24 Unnati Hooda also bowed out after suffering a 21-16, 16-21, 15-21 defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Hsun. It was her second straight loss against the same opponent.&nbsp;Lakshya Sen, the former All England Championships runner-up, was beaten 16-21, 14-21 by Japan’s Koki Watanabe in just 38 minutes. With the win, Watanabe improved his head-to-head record against the Indian to 4-3.&nbsp;The three first-round exits made it a disappointing day for India, especially with the country set to host the BWF World Championships in New Delhi next month for the first time in 17 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto are now India’s only players left in the USD 950,000 tournament.&nbsp;Sindhu will take on China’s fifth seed Han Yue in the second round, while Dhruv and Tanisha will face top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping on Thursday.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-2026-argentina-vs-england-sf-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1784109849959">FIFA WC 2026, Argentina vs England SF: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;The 21-year-old, Ayush, entered the match with confidence after defeating Kunlavut during his run to the Asia Championships final earlier this year. However, the Thai star, a three-time world junior champion, proved too strong this time.&nbsp;Ayush made a good start and led 7-4 in the opening game, but Kunlavut fought back to take a 12-9 lead. The Indian reduced the gap to 13-12, but the Thai moved ahead 19-16.&nbsp;Ayush saved three points in a row to make it close before Kunlavut wrapped up the first game.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-iran-congratulates-spain-for-semi-final-win-and-for-standing-on-the-right-side-of-history-1784106740908">FIFA | Iran congratulates Spain for SF win, 'standing on right side of history'</a>&nbsp;The second game was equally competitive. Kunlavut led early, but Ayush went into the mid-game break with a narrow 11-10 advantage. Later, the Thai earned four match points, but Ayush showed great determination and won a tense rally to level the match.&nbsp;In the deciding game, however, Ayush could not keep up the momentum. Kunlavut quickly took control with an 8-5 lead, extended it to 14-8 and comfortably sealed the match to reach the second round.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

It was a disappointing day for India at the Japan Open 2026 as Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda and Lakshya Sen were all knocked out of the tournament.

India suffered a disappointing day at the Japan Open 2026 as Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda and Lakshya Sen were all knocked out in the opening round in Tokyo on Wednesday (Jul 15). Ayush Shetty put up a strong fight against second seed and former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn but lost 19-21, 25-23, 15-21 in a hard-fought men’s singles match that lasted 82 minutes. World No. 24 Unnati Hooda also bowed out after suffering a 21-16, 16-21, 15-21 defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Hsun. It was her second straight loss against the same opponent. Lakshya Sen, the former All England Championships runner-up, was beaten 16-21, 14-21 by Japan’s Koki Watanabe in just 38 minutes. With the win, Watanabe improved his head-to-head record against the Indian to 4-3. The three first-round exits made it a disappointing day for India, especially with the country set to host the BWF World Championships in New Delhi next month for the first time in 17 years. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto are now India’s only players left in the USD 950,000 tournament. Sindhu will take on China’s fifth seed Han Yue in the second round, while Dhruv and Tanisha will face top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping on Thursday. Also Read - FIFA WC 2026, Argentina vs England SF: When and where to watch live streaming in India? The 21-year-old, Ayush, entered the match with confidence after defeating Kunlavut during his run to the Asia Championships final earlier this year. However, the Thai star, a three-time world junior champion, proved too strong this time. Ayush made a good start and led 7-4 in the opening game, but Kunlavut fought back to take a 12-9 lead. The Indian reduced the gap to 13-12, but the Thai moved ahead 19-16. Ayush saved three points in a row to make it close before Kunlavut wrapped up the first game. Also Read - FIFA | Iran congratulates Spain for SF win, 'standing on right side of history' The second game was equally competitive. Kunlavut led early, but Ayush went into the mid-game break with a narrow 11-10 advantage. Later, the Thai earned four match points, but Ayush showed great determination and won a tense rally to level the match. In the deciding game, however, Ayush could not keep up the momentum. Kunlavut quickly took control with an 8-5 lead, extended it to 14-8 and comfortably sealed the match to reach the second round. With inputs from agencies

It was a disappointing day for India at the Japan Open 2026 as Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda and Lakshya Sen were all knocked out of the tournament.

Japan Open 2026: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty & Unnati Hooda knocked out on Day 2

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty’s campaign came to an end on Thursday (Jun 4) as he went down 21-16, 13-21, 14-21 to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in a hard-fought round of 16 clash. Earlier in the day, PV Sindhu had also exited the tournament after suffering a 17-21, 14-21 straight-games defeat to world No. 1 An Se Young.&nbsp;The 21-year-old made a strong start, racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening game, although Lee responded quickly and briefly took control, the momentum continued to swing between the two players.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ayush held a narrow advantage at the mid-game interval and extended his lead to six points after the break. Despite Lee’s attempts to fight back, the Indian maintained his composure to take the first game.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-afg-odi-series-ruturaj-gaikwad-to-replace-virat-kohli-afghanistan-odis-rcb-captain-rajat-patidar-earns-india-a-call-up-for-sri-lanka-tri-series-1780570955915">Ruturaj Gaikwad to replace Virat Kohli for Afghanistan ODIs; RCB captain Patidar earns India-A call-up</a>&nbsp;The momentum shifted in Lee’s favour in the second game as the Hong Kong shuttler raced to an 8-2 lead. He continued to stay in control after the break, while Ayush struggled to fight back and comfortably won the game to level the match and force a decider.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-emilio-gay-former-italy-opener-makes-eng-test-debut-vs-nz-at-lord-s-1780567669443">Who is Emilio Gay? Former Italy opener makes ENG Test debut vs NZ at Lord’s</a>&nbsp;The final game began positively for Ayush, who moved ahead 3-0, however, Lee responded with a six-point streak that ultimately proved to be the difference in the end. Leading 11-5 at the break, he remained in control and secured his spot in the quarterfinals with a comfortable victory.&nbsp;Ayush’s elimination completed a disappointing tournament for India’s leading names, as Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy were knocked out in the opening round, while the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty withdrew from the competition due to Satwik’s injury.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty’s campaign ended in the Round of 16 as he lost 21-16, 13-21, 14-21 to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu after winning the opening game.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty’s campaign came to an end on Thursday (Jun 4) as he went down 21-16, 13-21, 14-21 to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in a hard-fought round of 16 clash. Earlier in the day, PV Sindhu had also exited the tournament after suffering a 17-21, 14-21 straight-games defeat to world No. 1 An Se Young. The 21-year-old made a strong start, racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening game, although Lee responded quickly and briefly took control, the momentum continued to swing between the two players. Ayush held a narrow advantage at the mid-game interval and extended his lead to six points after the break. Despite Lee’s attempts to fight back, the Indian maintained his composure to take the first game. Also Read - Ruturaj Gaikwad to replace Virat Kohli for Afghanistan ODIs; RCB captain Patidar earns India-A call-up The momentum shifted in Lee’s favour in the second game as the Hong Kong shuttler raced to an 8-2 lead. He continued to stay in control after the break, while Ayush struggled to fight back and comfortably won the game to level the match and force a decider. Also Read - Who is Emilio Gay? Former Italy opener makes ENG Test debut vs NZ at Lord’s The final game began positively for Ayush, who moved ahead 3-0, however, Lee responded with a six-point streak that ultimately proved to be the difference in the end. Leading 11-5 at the break, he remained in control and secured his spot in the quarterfinals with a comfortable victory. Ayush’s elimination completed a disappointing tournament for India’s leading names, as Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy were knocked out in the opening round, while the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty withdrew from the competition due to Satwik’s injury.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty’s campaign ended in the Round of 16 as he lost 21-16, 13-21, 14-21 to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu after winning the opening game.

Indonesia Open 2026: Ayush Shetty exits in Round of 16 after loss to Lee Cheuk Yiu

India experienced a mixed outing at the Thailand Open 2026 on Wednesday (May 13), as PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth secured comfortable victories to move into the round of 16, while Ayush Shetty suffered an early exit in Bangkok. The former world No. 1, Srikanth, delivered a dominant performance against Singapore’s eighth seed Loh Kean Yew, winning 21-14, 21-15 in 30 minutes. Recreating their 2021 World Championships final clash, the Indian shuttler controlled the rallies from the very beginning and gave Loh little opportunity to settle into the contest.&nbsp;Currently ranked world No. 29, Srikanth maintained his intensity throughout the match and easily dealt with a brief fightback from the Singaporean in the second game. The 2013 Thailand Open winner will next take on Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang in the second round.&nbsp;World No. 11 Lakshya extended his head-to-head record to 6-0 against Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh with a 21-16, 21-17 victory in 43 minutes.&nbsp;Meanwhile, PV Sindhu also advanced with ease after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Tung Ciou-Tong 21-9, 21-12 in a 33-minute encounter. The sixth seed dominated with aggressive attacking play and remained in command throughout the match to set up a round of 16 match with Denmark’s Amalie Schulz.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-about-pbks-vs-mi-match-no-58-timing-squad-h2h-more-1778664306382">IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about PBKS vs MI match no 58 timing, squad, H2H &amp; more</a>&nbsp;The two-time Olympic medallist is aiming to capture her first BWF World Tour title since winning the Syed Modi International in 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;India had another positive result through Devika Sihag, who claimed her first-ever Super 500-level victory. The 21-year-old overcame Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira 21-19, 13-21, 21-15 in a thrilling contest that lasted one hour and 11 minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ayush Shetty, however, failed to progress despite putting up a hard fought challenge against Japan’s sixth seed Kodai Naraoka. The Badminton Asia Championships silver medallist dropped the opening game 13-21 before fighting back to take the second 21-17. Naraoka, though, dominated the decider to complete a 21-13, 17-21, 21-4 win in 59 minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tharun Mannepalli’s campaign also ended in the opening round after a straight-game loss to Japan’s Koki Watanabe, who won 21-12, 21-16.&nbsp;&nbsp;Teenagers Unnati Hooda and Anmol Kharb showed promising signs despite defeats against higher-ranked rivals.&nbsp;Unnati took the opening game against Thailand’s fourth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong, but the local favourite recovered strongly to register an 11-21, 21-17, 21-16 victory.&nbsp;Anmol came close to stunning reigning champion and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Chen Yu Fei. The 19-year-old surged to an 11-2 lead in the deciding game before the experienced Chinese shuttler staged a comeback to win 19-21, 21-13, 21-18.&nbsp;

PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth storm into Thailand Open round of 16 with straight-game wins; Ayush Shetty knocked out in Bangkok

India experienced a mixed outing at the Thailand Open 2026 on Wednesday (May 13), as PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth secured comfortable victories to move into the round of 16, while Ayush Shetty suffered an early exit in Bangkok. The former world No. 1, Srikanth, delivered a dominant performance against Singapore’s eighth seed Loh Kean Yew, winning 21-14, 21-15 in 30 minutes. Recreating their 2021 World Championships final clash, the Indian shuttler controlled the rallies from the very beginning and gave Loh little opportunity to settle into the contest. Currently ranked world No. 29, Srikanth maintained his intensity throughout the match and easily dealt with a brief fightback from the Singaporean in the second game. The 2013 Thailand Open winner will next take on Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang in the second round. World No. 11 Lakshya extended his head-to-head record to 6-0 against Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh with a 21-16, 21-17 victory in 43 minutes. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu also advanced with ease after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Tung Ciou-Tong 21-9, 21-12 in a 33-minute encounter. The sixth seed dominated with aggressive attacking play and remained in command throughout the match to set up a round of 16 match with Denmark’s Amalie Schulz. Also Read - IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about PBKS vs MI match no 58 timing, squad, H2H & more The two-time Olympic medallist is aiming to capture her first BWF World Tour title since winning the Syed Modi International in 2024. India had another positive result through Devika Sihag, who claimed her first-ever Super 500-level victory. The 21-year-old overcame Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira 21-19, 13-21, 21-15 in a thrilling contest that lasted one hour and 11 minutes. Ayush Shetty, however, failed to progress despite putting up a hard fought challenge against Japan’s sixth seed Kodai Naraoka. The Badminton Asia Championships silver medallist dropped the opening game 13-21 before fighting back to take the second 21-17. Naraoka, though, dominated the decider to complete a 21-13, 17-21, 21-4 win in 59 minutes. Tharun Mannepalli’s campaign also ended in the opening round after a straight-game loss to Japan’s Koki Watanabe, who won 21-12, 21-16. Teenagers Unnati Hooda and Anmol Kharb showed promising signs despite defeats against higher-ranked rivals. Unnati took the opening game against Thailand’s fourth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong, but the local favourite recovered strongly to register an 11-21, 21-17, 21-16 victory. Anmol came close to stunning reigning champion and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Chen Yu Fei. The 19-year-old surged to an 11-2 lead in the deciding game before the experienced Chinese shuttler staged a comeback to win 19-21, 21-13, 21-18.

PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth storm into Thailand Open round of 16 with straight-game wins; Ayush Shetty knocked out in Bangkok

Thailand Open 2026: Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Srikanth advance to round of 16; Ayush knocked out

Ayush Shetty’s impressive run to the final of the Asian Badminton Championships ended with a silver medal for India, marking a significant achievement for the 20-year-old. With the rest of the Indian contingent exiting early, Shetty ensured the country had a podium finish in the tournament. Ranked world No. 25, Ayush produced a remarkable campaign, defeating three top-10 players on his way to the final. He began by overcoming China’s world No. 7 Li Shifeng in the opening round, followed by a win over former Asian Games champion and world No. 4 Jonatan Christie in the quarterfinals. He then stunned world No. 1 and Paris Olympics silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals.&nbsp;Although he fell short in the final against China’s Shi Yuqi, Ayush believes there were valuable lessons to take from the match. Speaking to WION in an online interaction, he reflected on the defeat and admitted that his opponent did not allow him to play his usual attacking game.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-watch-man-utd-s-martinez-gets-red-card-3-match-suspension-for-pulling-hair-of-leeds-calvert-lewin-1776144279636">Premier League | 'Not aggressive': Man Utd's Martinez gets red card &amp; 3-match suspension for pulling hair of Leeds' Calvert-Lewin</a>&nbsp;When asked if he needs to improve his transition from attack to defence, especially in rallies, he agreed and said it is an area he needs to work on by being more patient and playing longer rallies.&nbsp;“Yes, I think in the final, he didn’t give me a chance to attack. He kept his lengths perfect and didn’t allow me to dominate at the net. He maintained the pace, so I couldn’t create good attacking opportunities. That is something I need to work on, being more patient and playing longer rallies,” Ayush said.&nbsp;Despite the loss, the youngster had a memorable tournament and defeating top-ranked players will give him plenty of confidence. He will now shift his focus to the upcoming World Championships, followed by the Asian Games. It will be interesting to see how he builds on this experience and aims for a gold medal in future tournaments.

Speaking to WION in an online interaction, Ayush reflected on his defeat to China’s Shi Yuqi and admitted that the reigning world champion did not allow him to play his usual attacking game.

Ayush Shetty’s impressive run to the final of the Asian Badminton Championships ended with a silver medal for India, marking a significant achievement for the 20-year-old. With the rest of the Indian contingent exiting early, Shetty ensured the country had a podium finish in the tournament. Ranked world No. 25, Ayush produced a remarkable campaign, defeating three top-10 players on his way to the final. He began by overcoming China’s world No. 7 Li Shifeng in the opening round, followed by a win over former Asian Games champion and world No. 4 Jonatan Christie in the quarterfinals. He then stunned world No. 1 and Paris Olympics silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals. Although he fell short in the final against China’s Shi Yuqi, Ayush believes there were valuable lessons to take from the match. Speaking to WION in an online interaction, he reflected on the defeat and admitted that his opponent did not allow him to play his usual attacking game. Also Read - Premier League | 'Not aggressive': Man Utd's Martinez gets red card & 3-match suspension for pulling hair of Leeds' Calvert-Lewin When asked if he needs to improve his transition from attack to defence, especially in rallies, he agreed and said it is an area he needs to work on by being more patient and playing longer rallies. “Yes, I think in the final, he didn’t give me a chance to attack. He kept his lengths perfect and didn’t allow me to dominate at the net. He maintained the pace, so I couldn’t create good attacking opportunities. That is something I need to work on, being more patient and playing longer rallies,” Ayush said. Despite the loss, the youngster had a memorable tournament and defeating top-ranked players will give him plenty of confidence. He will now shift his focus to the upcoming World Championships, followed by the Asian Games. It will be interesting to see how he builds on this experience and aims for a gold medal in future tournaments.

Speaking to WION in an online interaction, Ayush reflected on his defeat to China’s Shi Yuqi and admitted that the reigning world champion did not allow him to play his usual attacking game.

'He didn't give me a chance': Ayush Shetty after loss to Shi Yuqi at Badminton Asia Championships 2026

Ayush Shetty’s debut run came to an end with a Silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships as he went down in a tough battle against World No 2 Shi Yu Qi of China, 21-8, 21-10 in the men’s singles final on Sunday (April 12). The twenty-year-old created history, becoming the first Indian to win silver at the event and only the first finalist in 61 years in men’s singles.&nbsp;<h2>Ayush settles for silver</h2>Shetty couldn’t carry forward his momentum from previous rounds as the experienced Chinese proved too hard for the Indian youngster. Taking the lead early from game 1, Shi allowed little space for Ayush to fight back.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Ayush, who managed to begin the second game stronger with a five-point lead at 7-2, couldn’t hold the strong start as the Chinese took control once again, equalising the score at 7 all, eventually sealing the victory.&nbsp;The tournament proved the youngster’s potential and the bright future of Indian badminton as he posed serious threats to the world’s top players, defeating WR 1, 3 &amp; 7 in the way.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Until quarterfinal Ayush had not dropped a game but was undone in the final. He had had packed off world no 7 Li Shi Feng, World no. 7 of China and Chinese Taipei's Chi Yu Jen in the earlier two rounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Thursday in In women’s singles, PV Sindhu bowed out after a hard-fought match against World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost to World No. 4 Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia. Unnati Hooda and HS Prannoy also exited the tournament.&nbsp;

Ayush Shetty created history as he became the first Indian to win silver at the event and only the first finalist in 61 years in men’s singles at the Badminton Asia Championships on Sunday (April 12).

Ayush Shetty’s debut run came to an end with a Silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships as he went down in a tough battle against World No 2 Shi Yu Qi of China, 21-8, 21-10 in the men’s singles final on Sunday (April 12). The twenty-year-old created history, becoming the first Indian to win silver at the event and only the first finalist in 61 years in men’s singles. Ayush settles for silver Shetty couldn’t carry forward his momentum from previous rounds as the experienced Chinese proved too hard for the Indian youngster. Taking the lead early from game 1, Shi allowed little space for Ayush to fight back. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Ayush, who managed to begin the second game stronger with a five-point lead at 7-2, couldn’t hold the strong start as the Chinese took control once again, equalising the score at 7 all, eventually sealing the victory. The tournament proved the youngster’s potential and the bright future of Indian badminton as he posed serious threats to the world’s top players, defeating WR 1, 3 & 7 in the way. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Until quarterfinal Ayush had not dropped a game but was undone in the final. He had had packed off world no 7 Li Shi Feng, World no. 7 of China and Chinese Taipei's Chi Yu Jen in the earlier two rounds. On Thursday in In women’s singles, PV Sindhu bowed out after a hard-fought match against World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost to World No. 4 Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia. Unnati Hooda and HS Prannoy also exited the tournament.

Ayush Shetty created history as he became the first Indian to win silver at the event and only the first finalist in 61 years in men’s singles at the Badminton Asia Championships on Sunday (April 12).&nbsp;

Badminton Asia Championships: India's Ayush Shetty grabs silver in maiden appearance

Ayush Shetty delivered the most significant victory of his career by upsetting World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn to book a place in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships 2026. The 20-year-old made a brilliant comeback after dropping the opening game, clinching a memorable 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 win in Ningbo on Saturday. Up against the Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallist, Shetty initially struggled to find rhythm, however, he responded with steadily building momentum in the second game before taking control in the decider to seal the upset.&nbsp;With this result, Shetty becomes only the second Indian after Dinesh Khanna (1965) to reach the men’s singles final at the continental championships. He had already assured himself of a medal by progressing to the semi-finals, becoming the first Indian men’s singles player since HS Prannoy in 2018 to do so.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-learned-the-art-of-being-a-leader-rohit-sharma-delivers-emotional-speech-on-15-years-with-mumbai-indians-1775898905552">'Learned the art of being a leader': Rohit Sharma delivers emotional speech on 15 years with Mumbai Indians</a>&nbsp;India’s most recent medal at the event came in 2023, when Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured the men’s doubles title. The reigning US Open Super 300 champion will now face either Chou Tien Chen or Shi Yuqi in the final.&nbsp;Currently ranked World No. 25, Shetty’s path to the final has been outstanding, as he has defeated several top-tier opponents during the tournament. He opened with a commanding win over World No. 7 Li Shi Feng, followed by another solid performance against Chin Yu Jen. In the quarter-finals, he produced another high-quality display to overcome World No. 4 Jonatan Christie.&nbsp;With early exits for Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu, Shetty has carried India’s challenge deep into the tournament. His impressive campaign has not only guaranteed a medal but also highlighted his emergence as a rising force in Indian men’s singles badminton.

The reigning US Open Super 300 champion will now face either Chou Tien Chen or Shi Yuqi in the final.

Ayush Shetty delivered the most significant victory of his career by upsetting World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn to book a place in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships 2026. The 20-year-old made a brilliant comeback after dropping the opening game, clinching a memorable 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 win in Ningbo on Saturday. Up against the Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallist, Shetty initially struggled to find rhythm, however, he responded with steadily building momentum in the second game before taking control in the decider to seal the upset. With this result, Shetty becomes only the second Indian after Dinesh Khanna (1965) to reach the men’s singles final at the continental championships. He had already assured himself of a medal by progressing to the semi-finals, becoming the first Indian men’s singles player since HS Prannoy in 2018 to do so. Also Read - 'Learned the art of being a leader': Rohit Sharma delivers emotional speech on 15 years with Mumbai Indians India’s most recent medal at the event came in 2023, when Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured the men’s doubles title. The reigning US Open Super 300 champion will now face either Chou Tien Chen or Shi Yuqi in the final. Currently ranked World No. 25, Shetty’s path to the final has been outstanding, as he has defeated several top-tier opponents during the tournament. He opened with a commanding win over World No. 7 Li Shi Feng, followed by another solid performance against Chin Yu Jen. In the quarter-finals, he produced another high-quality display to overcome World No. 4 Jonatan Christie. With early exits for Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu, Shetty has carried India’s challenge deep into the tournament. His impressive campaign has not only guaranteed a medal but also highlighted his emergence as a rising force in Indian men’s singles badminton.

The reigning US Open Super 300 champion will now face either Chou Tien Chen or Shi Yuqi in the final.

Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty reaches final, stuns World No. 1 Vitidsarn

India’s rising star Ayush Shetty assured India of a medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, with a 23-21, 21-17 win over World No. 4 and Olympian Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the men’s singles quarterfinals on Friday (April 10). The 21-year-old, who had won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023, displayed remarkable composure under pressure as he saved two game points in the opening game, missed one himself before pocketing the game 23-21.<h2>Ayush continues stellar run</h2>The second game saw both players level scores multiple times before Shetty nosed ahead at 10-9. From there, the Indian maintained his lead and closed out the match 21-17 in 54 minutes and set up a semi-final clash against world no. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Ayush hasn’t dropped a game in the tournament so far and has been enjoying a stellar run. Earlier in the tournament, Shetty knocked out China's Li Shi Feng, World no. 7, in straight sets, before repeating the trick against Chinese Taipei's Chi Yu Jen in the pre-quarters.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Shetty will next face the winner of the clash between World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn and China’s Weng Hong Yang, runner-up at the China Masters 2025. If he continues the impressive run, he could become youngest Indian to win the tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Thursday, in women’s singles, PV Sindhu bowed out after a hard-fought match against World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost to World No. 4 Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia. Unnati Hooda and HS Prannoy also exited the tournament.

Ayush Shetty, who had won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023, displayed remarkable composure under pressure as he saved two game points in the opening game, missed one himself before pocketing the game 23-21.

India’s rising star Ayush Shetty assured India of a medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, with a 23-21, 21-17 win over World No. 4 and Olympian Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the men’s singles quarterfinals on Friday (April 10). The 21-year-old, who had won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023, displayed remarkable composure under pressure as he saved two game points in the opening game, missed one himself before pocketing the game 23-21. Ayush continues stellar run The second game saw both players level scores multiple times before Shetty nosed ahead at 10-9. From there, the Indian maintained his lead and closed out the match 21-17 in 54 minutes and set up a semi-final clash against world no. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Ayush hasn’t dropped a game in the tournament so far and has been enjoying a stellar run. Earlier in the tournament, Shetty knocked out China's Li Shi Feng, World no. 7, in straight sets, before repeating the trick against Chinese Taipei's Chi Yu Jen in the pre-quarters. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Shetty will next face the winner of the clash between World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn and China’s Weng Hong Yang, runner-up at the China Masters 2025. If he continues the impressive run, he could become youngest Indian to win the tournament. On Thursday, in women’s singles, PV Sindhu bowed out after a hard-fought match against World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost to World No. 4 Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia. Unnati Hooda and HS Prannoy also exited the tournament.

Ayush Shetty, who had won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023, displayed remarkable composure under pressure as he saved two game points in the opening game, missed one himself before pocketing the game 23-21.

Badminton Asia Championships: India's Ayush Shetty topples World No.4 Jonatan Christie to reach semis

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