Ayush Shetty upsets world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi at BWF World Championships

India's Ayush Shetty pulled off a stunning upset at the BWF World Championships, defeating defending champion and world number one Shi Yu Qi of China in the first round on Monday, August 17. The 21-year-old secured a memorable 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 victory in a gripping 73-minute match at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, marking the biggest win of his career.

Playing in his World Championships debut, Shetty leveraged powerful smashes and smart net play to dismantle the top seed. He controlled the opening game, building an early lead and capitalizing on unforced errors from his opponent. However, after the players switched ends, the momentum shifted. Shi, using his experience to extend rallies, forced a decisive third game.

Shetty regained his composure in the final game, racing to a 15-5 lead. But Shi mounted a fierce comeback, saving four match points to narrow the margin to 20-19 before Shetty held his nerve to close out the match. The win was Shetty's first in four meetings against Shi, avenging a straight-games defeat in the Asian Championships final earlier this year.

"I knew it would be a really tough match, and I really had to work very hard," Shetty revealed...