Ayush Shetty scripts history, stuns globe No. 1 to reach Asian Championships badminton final | Badminton News - The Times of The country
Ayush Shetty scripts history, stuns world No. 1 to reach Asian Championships badminton final
Ayush Shetty scripts history, stuns global No. 1 to reach Asian Championships badminton final
India’s Ayush Shetty produced a remarkable performance to book his place in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships on Saturday, overcoming top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a gripping three-game contest.
The victory ensures Ayush will return with at least a silver medal.
Ranked global No. 25, Ayush relied on a combination of sharp attacking play and solid defence to overturn a slow start and claim a 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 win over the Paris Olympics silver medallist and 2023 world champion. In doing so, he became the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna to reach the final of the tournament. Khanna remains the only Indian to have secured gold in the event, achieving the feat in 1965, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the doubles title in 2023.
The US Open Super 300 champion will next face either Chou Tien Chen or Shi Yu Qi in the final.
Ayush had progressed through the tournament without dropping a game but had previously lost to Vitidsarn in straight games at the Arctic Open last year. The semifinal began with the Thai dictating proceedings, using pace and precision to move into an early lead and dominate the opening game comfortably.
After the interval, however, Ayush raised his level significantly.
He began the second game with intent, building an early advantage as Vitidsarn’s unforced errors increased. Displaying excellent court coverage and quick counter-attacks, Ayush maintained control despite a brief dip that allowed his opponent to close the gap. He eventually forced a decider with a composed finish under pressure.
In the final game, Ayush carried that momentum forward. He tightened his defence, retrieved difficult shots, and consistently applied pressure with aggressive strokes. Reading his opponent better, he maintained a steady lead before taking full command in the closing stages.
Despite a late fightback from Vitidsarn, Ayush remained calm, creating multiple match opportunities and eventually sealing a memorable victory with a precise down-the-line smash to complete a stunning comeback.
At TOI Sports Desk, reporters work around the clock to bring you comprehensive updates from the international of sports. Expect nuanced match reports, previews, and reviews, along with statistics-based technical analysis, the latest social media trends, and expert insights across cricket, football, tennis, badminton, hockey, motorsports, wrestling, boxing, shooting, athletics, and more.
IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad meet undefeated Punjab Kings in Latest Chandigarh
'Sir, kal se cricket khel sakte hain?': What Vaibhav asked docs after being hit on the helmet
Mukul Choudhary: 36 sixes in an innings, 500 km bus rides, a MS Dhoni dream
CSK vs DC: KL Rahul vs Khaleel Ahmed, Samson vs Axar: 5 key battles in today's match
Sooryavanshi deserves to be the youngest debutant for India: Arun Dhumal
'Dear Vaibhav...: Virat Kohli’s heartwarming message for Sooryavanshi
CSK vs DC: Chennai let them go, now Ngidi, Sameer Rizvi return to hurt them
PBKS vs SRH, preview: Punjab start favourites against faltering Sunrisers Hyderabad
IPL match today, CSK vs DC: Predicted playing XI, head-to-head, pitch account, Chennai weather information
Bumrah or Hazlewood, doesn't matter: Sooryavanshi says 'play the ball, not bowler'
US-Israel-Iran War Ceasefire News Live Updates: Donald Trump speaks to Netanyahu, asks Israel to pull back on Lebanon strikes
Gold, Silver Rate Today Live Updates: Gold prices rise in international markets; where are the headed in near-term?
TGBIE TS Inter Result 2026 Date & TIme Live Updates: TSBIE to announce 1st, 2nd year results soon for over 9 lakh students
4.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Maharashtra's Hingoli; no casualties
TSBIE Results: TS Inter 1st and 2nd year scores on April 12 at tgbie.cgg.gov.in; check detials here
Bumrah or Hazlewood, doesn't matter: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi asserts 'play the ball, not bowler'
Drama in PSL over Usman Tariq's action: Batter walks away twice vs Pakistan spinner - Watch
PCB, PSL under fire after ex-Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq's role comes to light
IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blitz scripts history, powers Rajasthan Royals to...
Kash Patel to head CIA, Vivek Ramaswamy homeland security? What a Trump 2.0 Cabinet may look like
Low-Budget South Films Outperform Major Releases, Signaling Major Shift In Box Office Trends
Watch PM Narendra modi, Rahul Gandhi Engage In Candid Talk At Event To Pay Tribute To Jyotiba Phule
US–Iran Negotiations In Islamabad Face 'Delay' As Key Differences Persist | Watch
"Behen Darr Gayi!": Fans relive ‘Bhagam Bhag’ era after watching Akshay Kumar's 'Bhooth Bangla' trailer
MBOSE HSLC result 2026 to release tomorrow: Check details here
Iran war risk: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warns of oil shocks, sticky inflation and higher interest rates
Make your clutch last longer with these easy driving tips
“Three-against-one situation”: El Rubius opens up on being “targeted” in MrBeast’s viral $1M challenge
Bihar BTSC lab assistant notification released for 1091 posts at btsc.bihar.gov.in; apply here
IPL craze costs techie Rs 1.46 lakh in fake RCB vs CSK ticket scam
Raising “robot-proof” kids: Why creativity and curiosity matter more than ever
Inside ‘Satguru Sharan’: Exploring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Rs 100 crore Bandra home
How selling Alaska in 1867 was a costly mistake for Russia
'Hera Pheri 3 is coming': Paresh Rawal dismisses delay reports and reveals he will 'start shooting soon'
US-Iran War: A daring rescue Hollywood blockbuster is on its way. Till then, pick your favourite from these 10 films on bringing someone home against all odds
Kolkata team unveils fan mural at Rash Behari Avenue, celebrating city’s first love
How US spread a lie to rescue a pilot of a jet shot down in Iran
Netflix unveils ‘VOID’, an AI model that can change a movie plot
AI data centers are causing 'stress' not just to tech companies, but also private insurers
"Trans women are.....": Clavicular’s viral moment with trans women sparks fresh conversation on internet culture
Copyright © 2026 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
