Aayush Shetty (Image credit: X)
New Delhi: Young Indian badminton player Aayush Shetty failed in his quest for the title, losing to China’s Shi Yuqi in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships. His impressive run ended with an 8-21, 10-21 defeat to the world number one.
2, as India’s wait for men’s singles gold in this event extends beyond six decades.Shi Yuqi was in complete control, delivering a clinical performance to secure the crown in just over 40 minutes. The world champion added the Asian title to his tally, becoming the first Chinese men’s singles winner at the tournament since 2016.
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Despite the loss, Ayouch emerged as one of the biggest positives of the competition. The 20-year-old’s giant-killing career is expected to propel him into the top 20 in the world rankings, reflecting his rapid rise on the international stage. His silver medal also made him the first Indian men’s singles player since HS Prannoy in 2018 to secure a podium finish at the continental meet.With this, Aayush added his name to the short list of Indian achievers in the tournament. Dinesh Khanna remains the only Indian men’s singles champion, having won the title in 1965, while the duo of Satwiksraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will clinched the men’s doubles title in 2023.
A product of the Padukone-Dravid Center for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, Aayush has already made history by becoming the first Indian in 61 years to reach the men’s singles final, equaling the feat Khanna achieved last time. His run included a stunning semi-final win over world number one and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn.He opened his campaign with a straight-set win over world number 7 Li Shi Feng and followed it up with another comfortable victory over Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yue Jin in the round of 16.
In the quarter-finals, he beat Indonesia’s world No. 4 Jonathan Christie in a tight contest to claim India’s first medal in the event.Ayush then produced an outstanding performance in their semi-final campaign, coming from a game down to defeat Conlavot in three games. During the tournament, he defeated three top-10 players – Li Shifeng, Jonathan Christie, and Kunlavut Vitidsarn – underscoring his composure and offensive quality, even as he finished one step away from a historic title.