Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships 2026 on Monday, defeating defending champion and World No.1 Shi Yu Qi in the opening round in New Delhi. The 21-year-old Indian, playing at the World Championships for the first time, held his nerve to beat the Chinese star 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 and register his first victory over Shi after three previous defeats. The win also came against a player who had beaten him in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships earlier this year.
Standing at 6ft 4in, Shetty possesses the kind of reach and physical presence that immediately sets him apart on the badminton court. But his rise has not been built on his height alone. The Karnataka shuttler has spent 2026 testing himself against the world’s best, reaching the Badminton Asia Championships final, helping India win a Thomas Cup bronze medal and making repeated appearances in the latter stages of BWF World Tour events.
Ayush Shetty Beats World No.1 Shi Yu Qi at BWF World Championships 2026
Shetty started aggressively against Shi, taking the opening game 21-14 before the defending champion levelled the contest. The Indian then built an 11-5 advantage in the decider and survived Shi’s late fightback to close out the biggest win of his career.
The victory was particularly significant given Shetty’s previous struggles against Shi. He had lost to the Chinese star three times, including a heavy defeat in the Badminton Asia Championships final. This time, playing in front of a home crowd in New Delhi, Shetty turned the tables.
Ayush Shetty Early Life, Childhood And Rise in Badminton
Born in Sanoor near Karkala in Karnataka, Shetty began playing badminton as a child and gradually progressed through the local and state circuit before moving to Bengaluru for better training opportunities. His development eventually took him to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, where he continued to sharpen his game under established coaches.
His breakthrough on the senior circuit has come quickly. Shetty won bronze at the 2023 World Junior Championships and has since emerged as one of India’s most promising men’s singles players. His tall frame, attacking strokes and growing confidence against top-ranked opponents have made him a name to watch.
Ayush Shetty’s 2026 Record: How Has India’s Young Shuttler Fared?
Shetty’s 2026 season had already established him as a serious threat before his World Championships heroics. At the Badminton Asia Championships, he defeated Li Shifeng, Jonatan Christie and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn to reach the final and win a historic silver medal. He then went 4-1 in singles at the Thomas Cup, helping India secure bronze.
He also reached the round of 16 at the Malaysia Open, beating Lee Zii Jia, and made the last 16 at both the Indonesia Open and China Open. Those results, combined with his latest victory over Shi, show that Shetty’s giant-killing reputation is no longer based on one-off results. His 2026 season has steadily built towards this moment and the World No.1 has just become his biggest scalp yet.
