On Saturday, Ayush Shetty from India advanced to the final of the Badminton Asia Championships, marking a significant moment as he aims to become the first Indian to secure the men’s singles title since Dinesh Khanna’s triumph in 1965.
The 20-year-old athlete, standing at 6 feet 4 inches and currently ranked 25th in the world, achieved this feat by defeating Thailand’s top player, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, with scores of 10-21, 21-19, and 21-17. Shetty’s impressive power during smashes, aided by his height, played a crucial role in his victory.
In the championship match on Sunday, Ayush will face China’s World Champion, Shi Yuqi.
Vimal Kumar, his coach at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, remarked that the Asian Championships are generally more challenging than the World Championships.
Ayush’s semifinal performance against Vitidsarn was not his only remarkable achievement during the tournament; earlier, he had also defeated former Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie, ranked 4th, and the promising Chinese player Li Shifeng, ranked 7th, showcasing his powerful smashes against them as well.
Having trained alongside double Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in Dubai, Ayush has developed a strong power game, particularly excelling at smashing, which has reignited India’s competitiveness in badminton. While Khanna remains the sole Indian to have won the men’s singles gold at this championship, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty achieved success in men’s doubles in 2023.
During the matches in Ningbo, Ayush demonstrated excellent handling of pressure. Vimal praised his ability to remain composed during critical moments, especially as he came back from a first-set loss of 10-21 to win the next two sets. After leading 20-14 in the second set, he faced a challenge as Kunlavut closed the gap to 20-19, but responded with a powerful down-the-line smash to clinch the set.
Though Ayush appeared fatigued during the decisive set, his powerful down-the-line smashes and well-placed half-smashes proved effective, ultimately swinging the match in his favor. Vimal highlighted Ayush’s remarkable composure throughout the competition.
Ayush, a self-motivated player who began his journey in his backyard with his father and friends, always aspired for greatness, prompting him to relocate to Bengaluru in his teenage years for better training. Under the guidance of coaches Mohit Kamat and Krishna Kumar, he refined his fundamentals, while his smash techniques were developed at Prakash Padukone-Vimal Kumar’s academy.
Over the years, Ayush has set high expectations for himself, and setbacks have often affected him deeply. An introverted individual, he struggled to seek assistance when faced with challenges. Last December, he suffered a significant back injury that hindered his physical capabilities, but he has since sought psychological support and has a dedicated team focused on maintaining his physical strength.
Last year, he achieved victories against notable players such as Rasmus Gemke, Kodai Naraoka, and Loh Kean Yew, but the back injury impacted his performance at the beginning of the current season. He made his debut in the Asia Team Championships but lost after leading against Korea, which resulted in India missing out on a medal. After a disappointing loss at the Swiss Open, he famously broke his racket in frustration.
However, this week has proven to be a turning point for both Ayush and Indian badminton. With Ayush’s presence at the Asian Championships and Lakshya Sen reaching the All England finals, the Indian team appears poised for a strong showing in the upcoming Thomas Cup.
