Shetty stuns defending champion in New Delhi
Defending champion Shi Yuqi crashed out of the BWF World Championships in the first round on Monday, as India’s Ayush Shetty pulled off the tournament’s biggest upset so far. The 21-year-old, ranked 22nd in the world, beat the top seed 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in one hour and 13 minutes at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
Shetty came into the match having lost all three previous meetings with the 30-year-old Chinese star, including a lopsided defeat in April’s Badminton Asia Championships final. However, he opened strongly on Monday, seizing an early lead and closing out the first game with ease. Shi hit back immediately, dominating the second game to force a decider.
Although Shi built a big cushion in the third game, Shetty steadied himself and held on for a 21-19 finish, sealing his first career win over the former champion. Afterward, Shi credited the crowd’s energy for the shift, while Shetty called the home support “an energy-booster,” adding that the fans’ backing helped him settle his nerves in the closing stages.
Sindhu and An Se-young cruise into second round
Elsewhere on Monday, South Korea’s An Se-young returned from a foot injury to beat Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova 21-14, 21-13 in 41 minutes. The top-ranked An had withdrawn from last month’s Japan Open with the same issue, so this marked her first competitive match back. She said she felt some pain but focused on staying calm and rebuilding her rhythm, and she now looks to add a second world title to the one she won in 2023.
India’s PV Sindhu also advanced, defeating Ireland’s Sophia Noble 21-7, 21-11 to continue her strong recent form following her Japan Open title last month.
