Internet in AWE! 20-year-old Ayush Shetty scripts history by stunning World No.1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a thrilling comeback (10-21, 21-19, 21-17) at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026! The young Indian storms into the final only the 2nd Indian ever to do so in men’s singles.
This is huge one from Ayush Shetty!!!🔥
Reaching at the Asian Badminton Championships 2026 Finals beating none other than WR1 when he was down 1st set! Badminton fans know how hard to get a victory against View at decider set. Must be the greatest win of his career🫶 #BAC2026 https://t.co/httu1cGlKA pic.twitter.com/vS87oYnBIS— Amit Kumar De (@AmitK98infinite) April 11, 2026
Wow! That is a stunning win over Kunlavut Vitidsarn to enter the Badminton Asian Championships 2026 final. Ayush Shetty!
In the past, Kunlavut has had issues v taller players like Axelsen and Yuqi, and Ayush Shetty is well over 6 feet. Wonderful achievement.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 11, 2026
Into the finals..
Just one more to go… 🏅
Dream run of Ayush Shetty continues .. beats world no 1 Vitidsarn in a thriller!! #BAC2026 pic.twitter.com/t7i8zw38GU— A⁷ (@anushmita7) April 11, 2026
Why aren't we talking about the 20 years old shuttler Ayush Shetty.
— Ruplekha (@Ruplekha1234) April 11, 2026
Match Summary
The match was a classic tale of resilience and rising stardom. World No.1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the defending champion and a seasoned campaigner, dominated the opening game with his trademark precision and power, racing to a 21-10 win. Ayush Shetty looked a bit overwhelmed early on, struggling to match the Thai star’s pace and experience.
However, the young Indian showed incredible mental strength and tactical maturity in the second game. He gradually found his rhythm, matching Vitidsarn shot for shot in long rallies and capitalising on small errors. Shetty edged the second game 21-19, shifting all the momentum. In the decider, the 20-year-old was unstoppable aggressive smashes, sharp net play, and rock-solid defence helped him pull away to a 21-17 victory. It was a stunning display of bigmatch temperament from the World No.25 Indian!
This is truly the dawn of a new era in Indian badminton! Ayush Shetty has been a giant-killer throughout the tournament taking down top seeds like Li Shifeng, Jonatan Christie, and now the mighty World No.1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn. From a game down to a sensational comeback victory, his grit, composure, and skill have left everyone amazed.