Ayush Shetty bleeds & battles to end Shi Yu Qi’s BWF World Championships defence

This was Ayush’s first win in four meetings against the Chinese World No. 1

India’s star badminton player Ayush Shetty held his nerve against top seed and reigning champion Shi Yu Qi in a thrilling BWF World Championships 2026 match that went down to a 20-19 decider.

Ayush had led 17-7 at one point in the deciding game, but Shi mounted a stunning comeback to put both the youngster and the Indian fans through a tense finish. Ayush, however, kept his composure and scripted a huge upset against the World No. 1.

By the time Ayush arrived for the post-match media interaction, he was drenched in sweat, with bloodstains visible on his shorts. The youngster had sustained an injury while leading 17-9 in the decider and was seen receiving treatment on court.

The injury completely changed the momentum of the match. Shi continued to fight, closing the gap to 11-18 and then 15-19 before taking the score to 19-20 in the decider. Indian fans were glued to their seats, fearing that Ayush might allow Shi to force another point.

Ayush had faced Shi three times previously and lost on every occasion. Shi had also dominated their clash at the Asian Championships in April this year.

Before that, he had won their three-game encounter in the Malaysia Open opener and defeated Ayush at last year’s Indonesia Masters.

But this time, Ayush was well prepared for the challenge.

Admitting that he was nervous, Ayush stayed aggressive and produced a forehand shot from close to the net into the back of Shi’s court to close out a 73-minute battle and secure a much-needed victory.

“I was telling myself to stay calm because I was getting a little nervous. Shi was closing the gap, had the momentum and somehow managed to get through everything I threw at him. So, I kept reminding myself to stay composed and continue being aggressive,” Ayush told reporters post his stunning win.

The youngster will next face Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama. Dumindu defeated Ayush in their only previous meeting, at the 2023 Bahrain International Challenge.

However, Ayush has made significant strides over the past two and a half years, and his stunning victory over Shi Yuqi is another major step forward.

Despite the magnitude of the win, Ayush is determined not to get carried away.

“Yeah, I am feeling great today, but I want to keep my head down and focus on the next round. I am happy with the win against Shi, but I want to go much further in the tournament. For now, though, the focus is on the next round,” he added.

Related: With US Open title, Ayush Shetty announces himself as Indian badminton’s next big star

Ayush has quickly become the talk of the tournament. He entered the contest as the underdog against Shi Yu Qi, but his hard-fought victory has raised the hopes of Indian badminton fans.

Ayush poured blood, sweat and grit into one of the biggest wins of his young career. Now, playing at home, the youngster can dream big at the ongoing World Championships. It may be too soon to talk about a podium finish, but after a win like this, there is every reason to hope.

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