Indian Shuttlers Post Mixed Results on Opening Day of Asia Championships

Indian shuttlers produced mixed results on the opening day of the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, with Ayush Shetty delivering a standout upset in men's singles while the top men's doubles pair withdrew due to injury. The tournament, held at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center for the third consecutive year, saw several Indian players advance amid early exits for others.

World No. 25 Ayush Shetty stunned seventh-seeded Li Shi Feng of China, a bronze medallist from the previous edition, in straight games 21-13, 21-16 over 51 minutes. Shetty, who claimed the US Open Super 300 title last year, overcame an early 4-1 deficit in the first game to level at 7-7 and seize control. In the second, he rallied from 13-18 down with a six-point surge before holding off a late push to secure the win. He will face Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in the round of 16.

Two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu also progressed in women's singles, surviving a first-game loss to defeat Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching 15-21, 21-11, 21-19 in one hour and seven minutes. Returning after more than two months without competitive play, Sindhu mounted comebacks in the latter games and now meets second-seeded...