Ayush Shetty’s run at the 2026 Badminton Asia Championships caught the eye of PV Sindhu, who called the youngster a “generational talent” after his run to the final.
The 20-year-old scored the biggest win of his career in Ningbo, coming from a game that defeated world number one Kunlavut Vitidsarn 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 in the semi-finals. After being outmatched in the first game, Shetty settled down, stayed patient and found her way back into the contest before taking control in the decider.
The result also has historical weight. He is only the second Indian after Dinesh Khanna in 1965 to reach the men’s singles final at the event. He had already sealed the medal by making it to the semi-finals, becoming the first Indian singles player since HS Prannoy in 2018 to do so. India’s last medal at the championships came in 2023 when Satwiksiraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the men’s doubles title.
“I have consistently maintained that he is a generational talent. In terms of pure natural ability, he stands right up there with the best young players I have come across,” Sindhu said.
“He’s been training in my group with coach Irwan for the last three weeks and that’s only given me more confidence. His range, the weight on his smash and the way he handles pressure in rallies really stands out,” she added.
Sindhu also pointed out that fitness and staying injury-free will be key if Shetty is to maintain this level, while praising his approach to training in the past few weeks.
Shetty’s progress in the tournament was built on big wins. He started by beating Li Shi Feng, then got past Chin Yu Jen before producing a composed performance against world No. 4 Jonatan Christie in the quarter-finals.
With early departures for Lakshya Sen and Sindhu herself, the onus fell on Shetty and he has handled it well so far. What stands out more than the results is the way he went about it.
HOW AYUSH SHETTY ROCKED THE ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP
There is a clear pattern to Shetty’s escape. He hasn’t always started quickly, but once he settles in, he finds ways to stay in the contest and put pressure back on his opponents.
The semi-final against Vitidsarn was a good example. After losing the first game, he didn’t try to rush things. He stayed in the rally, picked his moments and slowly shifted the match in his favor.
What stood out is his balance. He attacked when needed, defended when under pressure and handled the big points well. This combination helped him overcome close matches.
The final now becomes the next step, but even before that this run has put him firmly in the spotlight.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
11 Apr 2026 16:07 IST
