Ningbo, April 11
Ayush Shetty made history on Saturday by reaching the final of the Badminton Asia Championships. He is the first Indian men’s singles player to do so since 1965. Shetty earned his spot in the title match with a hard-fought three-game win over top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, guaranteeing himself at least a silver medal.
Ranked 25th in the world, Shetty came from behind after losing the first game to beat Vitidsarn, who is the Paris Olympics silver medallist and current world champion. The final score was 10-21, 21-19, 21-17. This victory is a big moment for Indian badminton, as Dinesh Khanna is still the only Indian to have won men’s singles gold at this championship, more than fifty years ago.
After the match, Shetty said, “It was a tough game. Vitidsarn started strong, but I stayed focused and trusted my game plan. Making it to the final means a lot to me and Indian badminton.”
Shetty will play either Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei or Shi Yu Qi from China in the final. His journey to the final has shown his aggressive style and determination, as he has not lost a single game before this semi-final. This win is especially meaningful because just a few months ago, he lost to Vitidsarn in straight games at the Arctic Open.
Shetty’s success marks a new chapter for Indian men’s singles badminton and gives hope for another gold after many years. The final is expected to draw significant attention as India supports its new star.
