Ningbo, China: In a sensational upset at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026, India’s rising badminton star Ayush Shetty delivered a dominant performance to defeat China’s fifth seed and World No. 7 Li Shi Feng in straight games. The 20-year-old Indian shuttler cruised to victory with scores of 21-13, 21-16 in just 51 minutes, storming into the Round of 16.
Playing fearless attacking badminton at the Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships 2026, Ayush Shetty showcased exceptional power, precision, and thunderous smashes that left the experienced Chinese player with no answers. Li Shi Feng, a former World No. 3 and a strong home favourite, was completely unable to read or react to the Indian’s relentless aggression.
Coach Vimal Kumar, Ayush Shetty’s mentor at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, was ecstatic after the match and shared his reaction, “What a performance by Ayush Shetty today in Ningbo, China at the Asian Championships. He absolutely blew away Li Shi Feng in straight games with fearless, attacking badminton.”
“The power, the precision, and those thunderous smashes — the Chinese had no answers, completely unable to read or react. A truly dominant display… one to watch for the future,” Kumar added.
This statement from Vimal Kumar perfectly summed up the brilliance of Ayush Shetty’s performance on the big Asian stage.
Composure, Control, and Class: Ayush Shetty’s Statement Win
Competing in a hostile environment against a top-ranked local star, Ayush Shetty (current BWF World No. 25) displayed remarkable composure and control. He dictated every rally from the start, executing sharp net play and powerful smashes with clinical precision. This victory is another major scalp for the young talent from Karkala, Karnataka, who continues to establish himself as a genuine giant-killer in men’s singles badminton.
Born on May 3, 2005, Ayush Shetty has been on a steady rise. A bronze medallist at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships and winner of the 2025 US Open Super 300 title, he has now beaten multiple Top-10 players. His success at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo further highlights the bright future of Indian badminton.
With this impressive win, Ayush Shetty advances to the Round of 16, where he will face Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen. Fans across India will be closely following whether the momentum carries forward in this prestigious continental championship.
Indian Badminton on the Rise Again
Ayush Shetty’s dominant straight-games victory over Li Shi Feng adds to the growing resurgence in Indian badminton. Alongside senior stars like Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and Kidambi Srikanth, young talents like Shetty are stepping up and delivering big-stage performances.
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