Ayush Shetty produced a stunning upset at the BWF World Championships 2025, eliminating defending champion and World No 1 Shi Yu Qi of China in the first round at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, 17 August. The Indian shuttler sealed a nervy three-game victory with a deceptive net flick on the final match point, sending shockwaves through the draw on day one.

The Match-Winning Moment

With Shi fighting back and saving four match points, Shetty conjured a moment of individual brilliance — shaping to play the shuttle to his opponent's forehand before changing direction at the last instant to send it the other way. The deception was total, and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium erupted.

'I am extremely happy with the way Ayush played that last shot. I mean, to play that at that moment speaks volumes of his talent,' said Sagar Chopda, Shetty's coach, in a post-match breakdown on the Badminton Association of India's YouTube channel.

What Coach Sagar Chopda Said

Chopda, who has been working with Shetty for several years at their academy in Bengaluru, explained that the net flick is a signature weapon the young Indian has carried since his junior days. 'He has always been good at that shot. If you look throughout the match, he played it at least three or four times, even on the first service receiving,' Chopda noted.

The coach added that Shi had been alert at the net and had scored almost all his 10 previous points that way, making the deceptive redirect all the more decisive. 'If he had probably kept the shuttle at the net, Shi was ready for it. But as soon as he played that shot, I knew that that was the winning moment,' Chopda said.

Tactics and Preparation

Chopda credited Indonesian coach Irwansyah — who has been working with Shetty tactically — for a key role in the victory. The two reportedly had a long strategy session the day before the match. The game plan centred on patience from the back of the court, avoiding rash smashes, and using clears and lifts to open up the court against Shi's varied attacking game.

'Overall, it was 10-on-10 in the first game. There was never an ounce of doubt in his shots,' Chopda said, adding that Shetty's defence against one of the world's most varied attackers was particularly impressive.

Veteran Eye in the Stands

Chopda also revealed that former national coach Vimal Kumar was present in the stands watching the match and shared important insights. The coach was quick to stress, however, that the job is far from done. Shetty must now recover quickly and shift focus to the next round, where the challenge will only grow tougher.

With this win, Shetty has announced himself as a genuine threat at the World Championships — and given Indian badminton fans a reason to watch every match he plays from here on.