Indian shuttler secures stunning victory over defending world champion

Twenty-one-year-old badminton star Ayush Shetty delivered a sensational performance in New Delhi by defeating defending world champion Shi Yu Qi. Competing at the 2026 BWF World Championships, the World No. 22 thrilled a packed Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Monday. He eliminated the Chinese top seed 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in an intense Men's Singles Round 64 clash. This historic victory marks one of the most significant upsets by an Indian men's singles player in recent global tournament history.

Early Dominance and Chinese Comeback

Shetty took control early in the opening match with sharp net play and aggressive smashes. He secured the first game 21-14 with relative ease. Trouble arrived in the second game when the players changed sides of the court. Misjudging his cross-court clears, Shetty sent multiple shots out of bounds. World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi seized this opportunity to establish a solid rhythm. The Chinese star took the second game 21-13, levelling the contest and pushing the match to a decider. Tension peaked in the final game. Shetty surged ahead to build a commanding 11-5 lead before the break. Shi fought hard to close the gap in the closing moments, but the Indian athlete kept his composure to claim the third game 21-19. This incredible win avenged his difficult loss to Shi in the Badminton Asia Championships final earlier this year. Shetty now advances confidently into the Round of 32.

More Victories for Home Favourites

Fellow Indian athletes also enjoyed highly successful opening matches on Monday. Elite shuttler PV Sindhu overpowered Ireland's Sophia Noble in her women's singles Round of 64 encounter. Sindhu claimed a quick 21-7, 21-11 victory.

Women's doubles contenders Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand mirrored this domestic success. The World No. 19 pair defeated Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez of Spain. They wrapped up their match in just over 30 minutes with a decisive 21-9, 21-13 scoreline, setting a strong tone for the host nation.

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Wth Inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI