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Ayush Shetty, 20, entered the men's singles final at the Badminton Asia Championships on Saturday in China. The Indian shuttler beat defending champion and World No.1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 in a tense three-game match.
Shetty became the first Indian men's singles player to reach the Badminton Asia Championships final since 1965. The 2023 World Junior bronze medallist achieved the feat in his debut appearance at the continental event, continuing his strong run against higher-ranked rivals.
Match flow and key moments
Vitidsarn, the Olympic silver medallist, controlled the first game as Shetty struggled to match his pace. The Indian lost that game 10-21. But he changed the momentum in the second game, tightening his defence and targeting the deep
corners with steady strokes.
Ayush raced to a 12-4 lead in the second game. Vitidsarn reduced the margin to 13-11 with sharp net play. Shetty stayed calm and held his nerve, closing the game 21-19. That forced a decider and shifted pressure onto the top seed from Thailand.
Decider, duration and next opponent
Carrying the same confidence into the third game, Shetty kept control of the rallies. He denied Vitidsarn chances to mount a late charge and wrapped up the decider 21-17. The semi-final lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes on court in China.
| Event | Badminton Asia Championships |
|---|---|
| Venue | China |
| Date | April 11, 2026 |
| Player | Ayush Shetty (India) |
| Opponent | Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) |
| Result | 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 |
| Match duration | 1 hour 15 minutes |
Shetty will face the winner of the semi-final between Chou Tien Chen, World Rank 6, and Shi Yu Qi, World Rank 2. That match will decide his opponent for the men's singles title clash at the Badminton Asia Championships.
