Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty stuns World No. 7 Li Shi Feng to enter round of 16
India’s rising star Ayush Shetty delivered a statement performance, upsetting World No. 7 and Hong Kong Open 2025 champion Li Shi Feng of China in straight games, 21-13, 21-16.
Despite the former World No. 3 Li’s strong start in both games, the Indian youngster dominated the later stages to advance to the pre-quarters. In the opening game, Ayush fought back early to level at 4-4, with Li holding a slight edge until 7-7. From there, the US Open 2025 champion seized control, overpowering the home favourite to take the game 21-13.
ALSO READ | Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Dhruv-Tanisha pair keeps Indian challenge alive in mixed doubles
The second game followed a similar pattern, with Li initially applying pressure and leading into the mid-phase.
Ayush, however drew level multiple times before shifting gears at 13-13. The youngster surged ahead with six consecutive points, closing out the match 21-16 in 51 minutes.
Published on Apr 08, 2026