New Delhi, August 18: India’s Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of the BWF World Championships so far, defeating world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi in a dramatic opening-round encounter at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
Making his World Championships debut on home soil, Shetty prevailed 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 after a gripping 73-minute contest.
The young Indian started confidently and took the opening game 21-14, forcing the top-seeded Chinese shuttler onto the defensive. Shi responded strongly in the second game, winning it 21-13 and pushing the match into a decider.
Shetty then held his nerve during a tense final game. Despite sustained pressure from the defending champion, the Indian closed out the contest 21-19 to secure a career-defining victory and send the tournament’s top seed out in the first round.
A remarkable turnaround for Ayush Shetty
The result carries added significance because Shi had defeated Shetty convincingly in the Badminton Asia Championships final earlier this year. The Chinese star won that match 21-8, 21-10, leaving Shetty with the silver medal. His victory in New Delhi represents a remarkable reversal against one of the leading players in world badminton.
Shetty entered the championships as one of India’s emerging medal hopes following a breakthrough run on the international circuit. His recent achievements include the 2025 US Open title and a historic silver medal at the 2026 Asian Championships.
Home crowd celebrates major upset
The New Delhi crowd celebrated as Shetty completed the upset, giving India an early highlight at a World Championships being staged in the country after a gap of 17 years.
The tournament is being held from August 17 to 23 and features leading players across men’s singles, women’s singles and the three doubles disciplines.
Shetty will now look to build on his landmark opening-round victory as the men’s singles competition moves into the next stage. With the defending champion eliminated, his performance has also opened up a closely watched section of the draw.
Image: Original editorial illustration created for SportsNet Intel.
