Badminton Asia Championships 2025
Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty stuns World No. 1 to reach men's singles final
The youngster will next face Shi Yuqi of China in the title match.
Twenty-year old Ayush Shetty continued his giant killing streak at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 as the next gen Indian ace defeated defending champion and World No.1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 to reach the men’s singles final on Saturday in his debut at the event.
Shetty became the first Indian men’s singles player to reach the final since 1965.
While the first game wasn’t in favour of the 2023 World Junior bronze medallist, Shetty overcame his early setback to comfortably dominate the next two games without letting Vitidsarn, the Olympic Silver medalist any chance for a fight back.
Ayush took a 12-4 lead in the second game and though Vitidsarn closed the gap at 13-11, the Indian always looked comfortable.
Entering the third game with the same confidence Ayush sealed his first finals spot at the Asian Championships in 1 hour and 15 minutes.
He will next face Shi Yuqi (WR #2) in the men’s singles final on Sunday.
Who did Ayush Shetty defeat to reach the men’s singles final at Badminton Asia Championships 2026?
India’s Shetty stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn to make the men’s singles final.
Who will Ayush Shetty face in the men’s singles final at Badminton Asia Championships 2026?
Shetty will next face World No. 2 Shi Yuqi of China in the title match.
Has any Indian won the men’s singles title at Badminton Asia Championships?
Yes, the only Indian to win the men’s singles title in the competition is Dinesh Khanna, who lifted the title in 1965.
Who were the last Indians to win the title at Badminton Asia Championships?
The last Indians to win the title in the competition were Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in 2023.
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Alex graduated in mass communication in 2016 and has been covering global sports for Khel Now since then. He is covering sports tech, igaming, sports betting and casino domain from 2017.