India’s rising badminton star Ayush Shetty announced himself on the sport’s biggest stage at the Malaysia Open 2026. Just days after stunning former World No. 2 Lee Zii Jia, Shetty pushed reigning world champion and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi to the edge in a gripping three-game second-round clash at Bukit Jalil.
The Super 1000 encounter lasted a bruising 70 minutes and ended in defeat for the Indian youngster, but the scoreline barely captured the story. Far from being overawed, Shetty matched Shi rally for rally, forcing the defending champion to dig deep into his experience to prevail in the decider.
Ranked World No. 32 and playing his first Super 1000 event, Shetty entered the tournament carrying a back niggle and limited expectations. What followed was a performance built on fearlessness and tactical clarity. Using his 6’5” frame to full effect, he retrieved relentlessly, controlled the net with maturity beyond his years and consistently pushed Shi into uncomfortable positions with deep lifts and deceptive half-smashes.
Shetty led for long phases of the opening game and deservedly took the second 21-18, refusing to collapse even as conditions became tricky and minor injury concerns surfaced. Ultimately, a brief lapse in concentration in the deciding game proved costly. Shi sensed the opening, shifted gears and closed out the match 21-12 with champion’s authority.
For Indian badminton, the message was unmistakable. Shetty is no longer just a promising talent — he is a genuine contender learning the final, brutal lessons of elite-level badminton. As his coach Vimal Kumar later revealed, the goal is clear: a top-10 or top-15 ranking by year’s end.
On evidence from Kuala Lumpur, that target looks ambitious — but far from unrealistic.
