Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Ayush Shetty Ends Shi Yu Qi's World Title Defence
Ayush Shetty is a 21-year-old badminton player from India.
He was playing in the Badminton World Championships for the very first time.
His opponent was Shi Yu Qi, the best badminton player in the world.
Shi Yu Qi was also the champion from last year, and he wanted to keep his title.
The match was very long and lasted one hour and thirteen minutes.
Ayush got hurt while he was winning the last game, and he needed help from doctors on the court.
He even got blood on his shorts, but he kept playing.
The crowd in New Delhi cheered very loudly and gave him energy.
In the end, Ayush won the match after three games.
Everyone was very happy because he had lost to Shi Yu Qi three times before.
Ayush Shetty defeated world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yu Qi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in the first round of the BWF World Championships.
The match lasted 73 minutes at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, with Shetty making his World Championships debut.
Shetty injured himself while leading 17-9 in the deciding game and needed on-court treatment, leaving bloodstains on his shorts.
Shi saved four match points before Shetty finished the contest with a deceptive net flick.
Shetty had lost all three previous meetings with Shi, including the Badminton Asia Championships final in April, and next faces Sri Lanka's Dumindu Abeywickrama.
- Who
- Ayush Shetty, a 21-year-old Indian shuttler ranked No. 22, and Shi Yu Qi, the world No. 1 and defending champion from China.
- What
- Shetty knocked out Shi Yu Qi in the first round of the BWF World Championships, ending the Chinese star's title defence.
- When
- August 17, 2026.
- Where
- At the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Shetty stayed composed and aggressive despite his injury and Shi's late comeback, with strong support from the home crowd.
- Event
- BWF World Championships
- Round
- First round (men's singles)
- Winner
- Ayush Shetty (India)
- Loser
- Shi Yu Qi (China, world No. 1, defending champion)
- Final score
- 21-14, 13-21, 21-19
- Match duration
- 73 minutes (1 hour 13 minutes)
- Venue
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi
- Next opponent
- Dumindu Abeywickrama (Sri Lanka)
