Ayush Shetty Settles for Silver After Loss in Badminton Asia Championships Final

Ayush Shetty Settles for Silver After Loss in Badminton Asia Championships Final

Ningbo, Apr 12 (VoM News): Ayush Shetty ended his impressive run with a silver medal after going down to world No. 2 Shi Yu Qi in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships on Sunday.

The 20 year old Indian lost 8-21, 10-21 in straight games, as China’s reigning world champion dominated the contest from start to finish. The defeat also extended India’s long wait for a men’s singles gold at the event.

Despite the loss, it was a breakthrough tournament for the unseeded youngster from Mangalore, who became only the second Indian after Dinesh Khanna to reach the final of the prestigious continental meet.

Khanna remains the only Indian to win the men’s singles title, having clinched gold back in 1965. In recent years, India’s only success at the tournament came through the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who won the title in 2023.

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Ayush, ranked world No. 25, had entered the final with strong momentum after defeating top players including world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, world No. 4 Jonatan Christie and world No. 7 Li Shi Feng during the week.

However, he struggled to match Shi’s precision and control in the final. The Chinese shuttler dictated play early, building a quick lead with sharp net play and forcing errors from the Indian.

Ayush found some rhythm in the second game and briefly led 7-2 with aggressive smashes and improved movement. But Shi quickly clawed back, taking control with his variation and court placement to turn the game around.

From there, the Chinese player maintained pressure, stretching the lead and eventually sealing the match comfortably to claim the title.

Though the final didn’t go his way, Ayush’s run has been widely seen as a major positive for Indian badminton, showcasing his potential against the world’s best.