Ayush Shetty had already lost to Shi Yuqi three times.
The last defeat, in the 2026 Badminton Asia Championships final, had been particularly painful. Shi won that match comfortably in straight games.
Four months later, the two met again — this time in the opening round of the BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
This time, Shetty had the answer.
The 21-year-old Indian stunned the defending champion and world No. 1, winning 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a 73-minute thriller.
For Shetty, it was his first World Championships appearance and his first victory over Shi Yuqi.
Ayush Shetty vs Shi Yuqi: What made this win different?
The biggest difference was not simply Shetty's attacking power.
The 6ft 4in Indian is already known for his powerful smashes. But against Shi, he showed a different level of patience and control.
Instead of attacking every shuttle, Shetty waited for the right opportunities.
He mixed:
- Powerful smashes
- High lifts
- Net shots
- Clears
- Defensive blocks
- Changes in direction
That allowed him to make Shi move around the court before looking for the finishing shot.
The strategy worked particularly well in the opening game, which Shetty won 21-14.
Shetty takes first game, Shi Yuqi fights back
Shi adjusted in the second game.
The Chinese star began controlling the rallies and moving Shetty around the court. Shetty struggled to create the same attacking opportunities and Shi eventually levelled the match by taking the second game 21-13.
At that point, the momentum appeared to be shifting.
But Shetty had something he had not shown consistently enough in his previous meetings with Shi: the ability to stay composed when the match became difficult.
Ayush Shetty takes 16-5 lead in deciding game
The third game produced the biggest drama.
Shetty started brilliantly and opened up a huge lead. He was ahead 11-5 and later moved to 16-5, putting himself within touching distance of one of the biggest wins of his career.
But Shi Yuqi was not finished.
The world No. 1 began producing one successful retrieval after another and slowly erased the deficit.
Suddenly, a match that had looked almost over became a contest again.
Shetty admitted afterwards that he became nervous as Shi started coming back.
He repeatedly reminded himself to stay calm and remain aggressive.
Shi Yuqi nearly completes stunning comeback
The comeback eventually became serious.
Shetty's lead disappeared point by point, and Shi moved to 19-20, leaving the Indian just one point away from losing the match.
This was the moment where Shetty's mental preparation mattered.
Rather than retreating into defence, he trusted his attacking instincts and produced a deceptive push at a crucial moment.
The shot helped him level the game before he eventually closed it out 21-19.
The result ended Shi's title defence in the opening round.
Ayush Shetty had lost to Shi three times before
The upset was even more significant because of Shetty's previous record against Shi.
Before the World Championships, the Indian had lost all three of their meetings.
The most recent came in the Badminton Asia Championships final in April 2026, where Shi defeated Shetty in straight games.
Shetty had therefore entered the World Championships knowing exactly how difficult the matchup was.
But his coaches believed he could change the outcome.
Coach Vimal Kumar reportedly gave Shetty a specific message during his preparations in Bengaluru: August 17 would be a bad day for Shi Yuqi.
Shetty eventually made that prediction come true.
Home crowd helped Ayush Shetty hold his nerve
Playing the World Championships in New Delhi gave Shetty another advantage: the home crowd.
When Shi began his comeback in the deciding game, the crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium rallied behind the young Indian.
Shetty later said the support gave him an energy boost, particularly when he became nervous late in the match.
The 2026 World Championships are being held in New Delhi from August 17 to 23, marking the tournament's return to India after 17 years.
What's next for Ayush Shetty?
The victory has sent Shetty into the next round of the men's singles draw.
More importantly, it has dramatically changed the narrative around his World Championships debut.
He did not simply defeat a top-ranked player.
He defeated the world No. 1 and defending world champion, overcame a three-match losing record against him and survived a late comeback after holding a massive lead.
For a 21-year-old playing his first World Championships, it was a statement victory.
And with Shi Yuqi eliminated, Shetty's side of the draw has suddenly opened up.
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