India Open 2026: Ayush Shetty Ready to Test Himself Against the World’s Best

Ayush Shetty looks ahead to his debut in the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2026 with confidence in his pocket and an increasing hunger in his racket. Speaking to myKhel and other media outlets ahead of the Super 750 tournament in New Delhi, Shetty reflected on his game as he prepares to face the top players of badminton.

Shetty's growing reputation since his bronze medal at the 2023 Junior World Championships has now helped him break into the top 30 of the world rankings. Now, moving into the Senior category, he admits the transition hasn't been easy.

"Now, every match is tough," the US Open victor told myKhel. "There are no easy matches. So you have to be on top of your game all the time.

"The intensity is really high. Even the top 50 or top 100 players,

they're all good. "

However, that's not to say he can't defeat the best of the best.

"Last year I had some good wins," he explained. "That gave me good confidence. I really believe I can beat them.

"Not only saying that I can, but I have also beaten some of the good players. "

With the India Open marking only the second stop of a long season, Aayush fixates on one goal: "To rise up in the rankings. The target is top 10 in my mind. "

Lakshya-Shetty match-up not ideal

Shetty is paired against compatriot Lakshya Sen for the opening round - a significant matchup in the marquee event. Both Ayush and Lakshya come from the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, now the Centre for Badminton Excellence (CBE).

With empathy for the fans, Shetty stated, "To play Lakshya at the India Open is a pity. "

However, as a player, he looks forward to what his former training partner and World No. 13 will bring to the court. "I see it as a challenge, playing Lakshya. He's obviously one of the best in the world. "

It's a challenge Shetty has faced twice before, in the Australian Open and Hong Kong Open, and failed.

However, he remains undeterred. "I hope we can have a great match again at the India Open. I hope to be on the winning side this time. "

India's next Axelsen

Last season, Dutch star Victor Axelsen shared images of training alongside Shetty, even stating that Shetty was a reflection of his younger self.

When asked if he held a mirror to the two-time Olympic champion, Shetty remained humble. "We have a pretty similar game; we both like to attack. It's really good to be called the next Axelsen of India.

"But I think I would like to continue my own path. I think Victor is someone I looked up to. " While Shetty believes there is no comparison, his stellar growth in the sport says otherwise.

Ayush will have a lot of opportunities to forge his own path with an especially packed year ahead, with the Asian Games bringing him back to home soil amid regular tour events and World Championships.