New Delhi: India’s Ayush Shetty finished with a silver medal after losing the men’s singles final at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 on Sunday.
The 20-year-old went down in straight games to world No. 2 Shi Yu Qi from China, losing 8-21, 10-21 in the summit clash. The defeat extended India’s long wait for a men’s singles gold at the continental event.
Ayush struggled to find rhythm against the reigning world champion, who maintained control throughout with precise shot-making and tactical discipline, according to reports.
Despite the loss, the unseeded Indian produced an impressive campaign. He became only the second Indian men’s singles player, after Dinesh Khanna, to reach the final of the tournament.
Khanna remains the only Indian singles champion in the event’s history, having won the title in 1965. Since then, India’s only gold came in men’s doubles, when Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the title in 2023.
Ranked world No. 25, Ayush entered the final after a strong run through the draw. He had earlier defeated top players, including world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, world No. 4 Jonatan Christie, and world No. 7 Li Shi Feng.
However, in the final, Ayush could not counter Shi’s variation and control. The Chinese shuttler used a mix of deception and attacking strokes to prevent the Indian from settling into his natural attacking game.
Ayush, who trains at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, concluded the tournament with a breakthrough silver, marking one of the most notable performances of his young career.
Meanwhile, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Shetty on winning the silver medal.
In a post on X, he said: “A spectacular debut that has made the entire nation proud!”
