Source TOI
NEW DELHI — Indian badminton witnessed one of its most memorable days in recent history as 21-year-old Ayush Shetty orchestrated a monumental upset, eliminating defending champion and World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi in the opening round of the 2026 BWF World Championships on Monday.
Playing in front of a raucous home crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the World No. 22 held his nerve in a grueling three-game thriller, ultimately dispatching the top-seeded Chinese superstar 21-14, 13-21, 21-19. Shetty’s landmark victory spearheaded a dominant opening day for the host nation’s contingent.
A Match for the Ages
Heading into the Men’s Singles Round of 64, the odds heavily favored Shi Yu Qi, who held an unblemished 3-0 head-to-head record against the young Indian. Their most recent encounter, the Badminton Asia Championships final in April, resulted in a crushing straight-game defeat for Shetty.
However, buoyed by the vocal Delhi crowd, Shetty executed a brilliant tactical game. He immediately put the defending champion on the back foot, utilizing blistering smashes and sharp net play to confidently claim the opening game 21-14.
The momentum shifted dramatically after the change of ends. Struggling with his cross-court clears, Shetty sent several shots long, allowing Shi to dictate the pace and level the match with a 21-13 victory in the second game.
The deciding third game saw Shetty reignite his aggressive form. He surged to an 11-5 lead at the mid-game interval, establishing a cushion that proved vital. Though the World No. 1 predictably fought back in the closing stages, narrowing the gap to a single point at 20-19, Shetty remained composed to seal the 21-19 victory, sending the arena into a frenzy.
“I was telling myself to calm down… I was getting a bit nervous because he was catching up and momentum was shifting,” Shetty shared after his milestone victory. “I was just telling myself: calm down and be aggressive”.
India’s Perfect Start
Shetty’s heroics capped off what was an impeccable Day 1 for the host nation.
Women’s Singles: Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu made quick work of her Round of 64 opponent, defeating Ireland’s Sophia Noble 21-7, 21-11 in just 29 minutes.
Women’s Doubles: The World No. 19 duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand commenced their campaign emphatically, dispatching the Spanish pair of Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez 21-9, 21-13.
Men’s Doubles: The pair of MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan also progressed after their Irish opponents, Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds, were forced to retire hurt during the second game of their clash.
With the defending champion out of the picture and an unblemished opening day in the books, Indian badminton fans have every reason to dream big as the 2026 World Championships continue to unfold on home soil.
