Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty defeated world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi on Monday [1, 2].
The victory marks one of the most significant upsets of the 2026 BWF World Championships [3]. By eliminating the top seed in the opening round, Shetty has disrupted the tournament bracket and energized the home crowd in New Delhi [1, 4].
The match took place at the Indira Gandhi Stadium [4]. Shetty, who stands 6 feet 4 inches [5], utilized a combination of attacking play and composure to overcome the Chinese champion [2, 6]. The contest lasted three sets, with Shetty securing the win with a final score of 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 [1].
Shetty took the first game decisively before Shi Yuqi rallied to claim the second [1]. The deciding game remained tight until the closing moments, where the Indian player managed to hold his nerve to close out the match [1, 4].
This result is a rare early exit for Shi Yuqi, who entered the competition as the favorite to retain his title [1, 2]. The round of 64 serves as the first round of the men's singles competition [4].
Shetty's performance is being viewed as a breakthrough for Indian badminton on the world stage [2, 6]. His ability to maintain pressure against the world's highest-ranked player suggests a shift in competitive momentum during the event [6].
“Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty defeated world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi”
The early exit of the world No. 1 removes the primary favorite from the 2026 BWF World Championships. This opens the draw significantly for other contenders and highlights the increasing competitiveness of Indian singles players in high-stakes international tournaments.
