In the opening week of the New Year, 20-year-old Ayush Shetty demonstrated exactly why he is one of the most electrifying prospects on the badminton circuit. After kickstarting his season by dispatching former World No. 2 Lee Zii Jia, the youngster from Mangalore proved his mettle in a tantalising three-game thriller against World No. 1 Shi Yuqi on Thursday, 8 January.
advertisement
While Shetty couldn’t quite complete the giant-slaying act, he gave a masterful account of his ability to go toe-to-toe with the elite. The Super 1000 encounter at Bukit Jalil lasted a gruelling 70 minutes, with Shetty stretching the defending champion to his absolute limits.
Malaysia Open 2026 Day
Continue Reading on India Today
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.