Ayush Shetty Stuns World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi at World Championships

Indian badminton’s 21-year-old rising star Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of the 2026 BWF World Championships, defeating World No. 1, defending champion and top seed Shi Yu Qi in the Round of 64 on the opening day of the tournament.
Making his World Championships debut,

A memorable #BWFWorldChampionships debut for 🇮🇳 Ayush Shetty! 🔥 #NewDelhi2026 pic.twitter.com/z3MPJDA0WP

— BWF (@bwfmedia) August 17, 2026

Shetty rose to the occasion in front of a passionate home crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, overcoming the Chinese superstar 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a thrilling 73-minute battle.

Ayush Shetty 🇮🇳 puts defending champion Shi Yu Qi 🇨🇳 to the test.#BWFWorldChampionships #NewDelhi2026 pic.twitter.com/ttifOXP2om

— BWF (@bwfmedia) August 17, 2026

Shetty made a confident start, taking the opening game 21-14 and putting the top seed under immediate pressure. Shi Yu Qi responded strongly in the second game, winning 21-13 to level the contest and set up a tense decider.

The Indian youngster showed remarkable composure in the third game, holding his nerve in the crucial moments to seal a stunning 21-19 victory.

The result marks a defining moment in Shetty’s young career and one of the biggest shocks of the badminton season. With the home crowd roaring him on, the 21-year-old delivered a performance filled with confidence, fighting spirit and maturity against one of the sport’s biggest stars.

For Shi Yu Qi, the defeat brings his title defence to a shock early end, while Shetty advances to the Round of 32 with momentum and belief after announcing himself on the biggest stage.