Badminton Asia Championships 2025
Ayush Shetty vs Shi Yuqi Highlights, Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty finishes runner-up after straight games defeat
Hello and welcome to Khel Now’s live blog for the Ayush Shetty vs Shi Yuqi men’s singles final at Badminton Asia Championships 2026. Please wait for the blog to load.
Ayush Shetty will chase history when he meets World No. 2 Shi Yuqi of China in the men’s singles final at Badminton Asia Championships 2026.
Shetty, 20, is making his maiden appearance in the tournament final while Shi Yuqi finished as runner-up in 2019 in addition to two bronze-medal finishes in 2017 & 2024 respectively.
This will be the third meeting between Yuqi and Shetty, with the Chinese winning both previous encounters. They met for the first time at the 2025 Indonesia Masters, where Yuqi won the opening-round match in straight games (21-19, 21-19).
Most recently, they met in the round of 16 at 2026 Malaysia Open where the young Indian forced a three setter but eventually lost 18-21, 21-18, 12-21.
Despite past results, Shetty will be confident heading into the title match against the second seeded opponent at Badminton Asia Championships 2026.
He has already seen off third seed and former champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the quarters before knocking out titleholder and World No. 1 Kunlavut Viditsarn to reach the final.
Against Christie, the Indian needed less than an hour to win in straight games (23-21, 21-17) while he fought back from a game down against Thailand’s Vitidsarn (10-21, 21-19, 21-17).
Second seeded Shi Yuqi has had an easier route to the final. He beat seventh seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan in the last eight stage before seeing off Chou Tien Chen (#4) for a second final appearance.
The Chinese went down to Japan’s Kento Momota in the 2019 final, losing 21-12, 18-21, 8-21 to settle for silver. He also picked up bronze medals in 2017 and 2024 after reaching the semis.
While both players are chasing their first-ever title in the competition, Ayush Shetty is aiming to become first Indian since 1965 to win the men’s singles title at Badminton Asia Championships.
The last Indian to achieve this frat was Dinesh Khanna, while PV Sindhu was the last Indian to win a singles medal in the tournament – she clinched bronze in 2022.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are the last Indians to win gold in the tournament, with the pair doing so in men’s doubles in 2023.
Where and when will Ayush Shetty vs Shi Yuqi final match take place at Badminton Asia Championships 2026?
The men’s singles final will be played at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre on March 12 (Sunday). It has a tentative start time of 2:30 PM IST.
What is the head-to-head record between Ayush Shetty and Shi Yuqi?
They have met twice in the past, with Shi Yuqi winning both those meetings.
Who was the last Indian to win the men’s singles title at Badminton Asia Championships?
Dinesh Khanna was the last Indian to achieve this feat. He did so in the 1965 edition.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram
Where passion meets insight — blending breaking news, in-depth strategic analysis, viral moments, and jaw-dropping plays into powerful sports content designed to entertain, inform, and keep you connected to your favorite teams and athletes. Expect daily updates, expert commentary and coverage that never leaves a fan behind.