‘Tall Boy, Bigger Dreams’: Ayush Shetty’s China Breakthrough Hints at India’s Next Badminton Star
When Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu calls someone a “generational talent,” people in the badminton world take notice. That’s exactly what she said about 20-year-old Ayush Shetty after his stunning run at the Asian Badminton Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China.
Standing at an imposing 6 feet 4 inches, Shetty has always been hard to miss on court. But after this week’s performances, he has become impossible for the badminton world to ignore.
The young Indian produced the biggest upset of the tournament by defeating World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-finals. It was a performance full of composure, patience, and powerful attacking play—qualities that have quickly made him one of India’s most exciting prospects.
However, the final brought a reality check. Facing World No. 2 Shi Yuqi, Shetty struggled to impose his aggressive game. The Chinese star delivered a masterclass in precision and control, winning the match in just 42 minutes with a score of 21-8, 21-10.
For Shetty, though, the loss felt less like a setback and more like a valuable lesson.
He admitted that Shi Yuqi’s ability to control the length of rallies and keep him away from the net made it difficult to attack. According to Shetty, learning to stay patient, extend rallies, and transition smoothly between defence and attack is something he now wants to improve.
Despite the final defeat, his journey to the title clash thrilled badminton fans. His steep smashes, sharp angles, and impressive court coverage stood out throughout the tournament.
Growing up, Shetty admired legends like Lee Chong Wei for his explosive attacking style and Kidambi Srikanth for his success on the international stage. But as his physique and game evolved, he began studying another towering champion—Viktor Axelsen.
Training alongside the Danish Olympic champion in Dubai proved to be a turning point. Shetty said Axelsen’s agility, defence, and ability to stay low on court despite his height showed him what’s possible for tall players.
Another key change in his journey is his new training setup. Though he joined the programme only a couple of weeks ago, the impact is already visible. Longer, tougher sessions are pushing him physically and mentally.
Training alongside P. V. Sindhu has also inspired him to raise his standards.
But perhaps the biggest shift has happened in his mindset.
For years, becoming one of the world’s best felt like a distant dream. Now, Shetty says he genuinely believes he belongs at the highest level of the sport.
His focus is already on the future, with the World Championships and the Asian Games firmly on his radar. More importantly, he hopes the big victories will soon become a regular habit.
For Indian badminton fans, Ayush Shetty’s rise could be the start of something special.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
