Now Reading: Ayush Shetty ready to face world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi
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Ayush Shetty ready to face world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi
Unseeded Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty faces a daunting opening match at the Badminton World Championships against defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi. The 21-year-old, who lost all three previous…
The Story in Brief
Unseeded Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty faces a daunting opening match at the Badminton World Championships against defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi. The 21-year-old, who lost all three previous meetings including the Asian Championships final, called it 'just another match' despite the tough draw. 'I'll have to be tactically better this time,' Ayush said, adding that his elbow injury is now fully healed.
Last year, Lakshya Sen lost to Shi in the same round at the Worlds but later beat him at the All England. Ayush, fresh from strong showings at the Thomas Cup and Asian Championships, believes he is better prepared now. The Hindu reports that Shi has been below his best recently, giving Ayush a window for an early upset.
The Indian Opinion
The hype around Ayush's 'just another match' line masks a harsh record: three losses to Shi, the last in the Asian Championships final. Calling it a test of his tactical improvement is fair, but chalk it up to more than luck if he wins. The real measure will be his net game against Shi's powerful smashes and whether his elbow holds up under five-set pressure. Watch the first game: if he stays within 5 points, he might actually have a chance.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
