New Delhi, August 16: Emerging Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty is gearing up to face a challenging draw in the BWF World Championship 2026, set to take place in front of a home crowd. He will compete against China’s defending champion, Shi Yuqi. Ayush has expressed confidence in his strategic preparation to take on the world’s top player.
The match between Ayush and Shi is expected to be one of the most intriguing singles contests in the opening round. The Chinese player has secured one title this season, while Ayush has faced defeat in all three previous encounters against Shi. Recently, he lost in the final of the Badminton Asia Championship.
Speaking to the media ahead of the championship opener, Ayush stated, “I am not dwelling too much on past matches. We will approach this differently. We will assess what needs to be done. Tomorrow is a new match. It will be a completely different game.”
He added, “In the last match, I was strategically better. This time, we definitely have a new plan and approach. I am genuinely excited. I will try to relax and enjoy the game as much as possible.”
Ayush had an impressive run in 2025, winning the US Open and defeating several top players on the BWF World Tour. However, he faced a setback in January during his debut at the India Open, losing his first match to Lakshya Sen.
Returning to the Indira Gandhi Stadium after six months, Ayush remarked, “Six months ago, it was a 750-meter event. Now, it’s the World Championship, which makes a significant difference. You can see the improvements in facilities. It’s really great now, and everyone is talking about it. It will be challenging for all. We need to adapt and play our game accordingly.”
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