Ayush Shetty upsets defending champion Shi Yu Qi at 2026 BWF World Championships

Ayush Shetty (Pic: ANI)

India's 21-year-old badminton star Ayush Shetty delivered a headline-grabbing performance on Monday, causing a major upset against top seed and reigning world champion Shi Yu Qi of China at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi.

Performing in front of the home crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the 22nd-ranked Indian displayed remarkable composure to overcome the Chinese favourite with a scoreline of 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in their Men's Singles Round of 64 clash.

Shetty established authority early in the match, using heavy overhead smashes alongside precise net play to place Shi on the back foot. Controlling the tempo throughout the opening game, the young Indian closed out the game 21-14 to take an early lead.

However, the dynamic shifted once the players changed ends for the second game. Shetty encountered difficulty adjusting to the court conditions, overhitting several cross-court clears and pushing shuttlecocks beyond the baseline. Shi seized the opportunity, capitalising on unforced errors to construct a comfortable cushion and level the match with a 21-13 victory.

Shetty held his nerve in the final set as other Indian stars won too

The third and final game evolved into a hard-fought battle of nerves. Shetty established an early 11-5 advantage heading into the mid-game break, though Shi mounted a fierce late-game surge to close the gap. Demonstrating poise under heavy pressure during the closing exchanges, the Indian shuttler held on to claim the decider 21-19, sealing a memorable triumph and eliminating the world's top-ranked player from BWF World Championships.

The victory carried added significance for Shetty, serving as redemption following his defeat to Shi in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships earlier in the season. With the victory secured, Shetty advances to the Round of 32.

Earlier in the day, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu kicked off her campaign in convincing fashion, dispatching Ireland's Sophia Noble 21-7, 21-11 in her Women's Singles Round of 64 match.

India's success extended to the Women's Doubles draw, where the 19th-ranked pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand dispatched Spain's Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez 21-9, 21-13 in a match lasting just over 30 minutes.