Ayush Shetty stuns world No. 7 Li Shi Feng to reach Badminton Asia Championships pre-quarterfinals

India’s young badminton star Ayush Shetty pulled off a major upset by defeating world No. 7 Li Shi Feng in straight games at the Badminton Asia Championships, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals after a dominant performance in the latter stages of both games.

Hyderabad: 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 at the Badminton Asia championships advancing to the pre-quarters.

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.

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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. Ayush will next face Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei.