Ayush Shetty, expressing pride and optimism, secured a silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships, highlighting the tournament’s significance in boosting his confidence to become the world’s best player. Despite disappointment in the final match, where he credited Shi Yu Qi as the better player, Shetty remained grateful for the silver medal.
The 20-year-old Indian, ranked 25th globally, faced a defeat of 8-21, 10-21 against the reigning world champion Yu Qi in the final held at the Ningbo Olympic Center. This achievement marked Shetty as the first Indian men’s singles player since 2018 to earn a podium finish at the continental championship.
Shetty’s victory over defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the semifinals positioned him as only the second Indian men’s singles player, and third overall, to reach the Badminton Asia Championships final. Winning the final would have paralleled Dinesh Khanna’s men’s singles championship in 1965.
Reflecting on his performance, Shetty expressed confidence in his ability to excel globally and looked forward to the upcoming Thomas Cup with enthusiasm. He acknowledged the need to enhance consistency in defeating top players regularly and aimed to maintain a high level of play consistently.
PV Sindhu commended Ayush Shetty as a generational talent following his remarkable journey to the Badminton Asia Championships final, where he defeated World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Shetty expressed his admiration for Sindhu and HS Prannoy, emphasizing the significance of their support and inspiration.
