# Ayush Shetty ready for World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi in Worlds opener

2026-08-10T16:03:39+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Unseeded Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty will open his maiden BWF World Championships campaign against defending champion and World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi in New Delhi on August 17. The 21-year-old from Karnataka has lost all three previous meetings with the Chinese star, including the Asian Championships final in April, where Shi won 21-8, 21-10. Ayush said he was prepared to face the top seed and viewed it as 'just another match'. He added that he had analysed their past encounters and would be 'tactically better this time'. Fully recovered from an elbow injury, Ayush hopes home crowd support can help him cause an upset.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com <https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/badminton-world-championships-just-another-match-ayush-ready-to-face-no-1-shi/article71328518.ece>
- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/badminton/bwf-world-championships-battle-hardened-ayush-shetty-is-ready-4106249>
- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/badminton/ayush-shetty-ready-for-the-tough-worlds-initiation-101786379788442.html>

Tags: Ayush Shetty, badminton, BWF World Championships, Indian badminton, shi yu qi, sports-news
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