Ayush Shetty Sets His Sights on Shi Yuqi at World Championships
Ayush Shetty has been given an unusual assignment: a simple sentence to keep in mind every day—”17th August is a bad day for Shi Yuqi.” This task comes from Vimal Kumar, co-founder of the Centre for Badminton Excellence in Bengaluru. Vimal believes that this small act could manifest positive energy for Ayush ahead of his match.
Ayush is set to kick off his BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Monday, facing Shi Yuqi, the current world number one and defending champion. Shi has proven to be a tough opponent for Ayush, having beaten him twice this year.
“I’m really looking forward to Ayush’s match against Shi on the 17th,” Vimal remarked. “If Ayush wins, it would be a significant achievement. The match feels very much like a 50-50 chance, and I’m eager to see how it unfolds.”
National chief coach Pullela Gopichand shares a similar view on Ayush’s challenging match-up. He noted that facing Shi in the first round is no easy feat, but there’s a silver lining. “Shi Yuqi in the first round is tougher than in later rounds,” Gopichand said. He recalled that Lakshya Sen had previously defeated Shi in a similar scenario at the All England Open. “Ayush has a powerful smash, so I believe he has a solid chance.”
Lakshya’s victory earlier this year is a testament to Ayush’s potential. Lakshya managed to beat Shi with scores of 23-21, 19-21, and 21-17, showing resilience in a match that lasted over an hour. This kind of composure is exactly what Vimal wants from Ayush when he steps onto the court.
Ayush’s Previous Encounters with Shi
Despite Ayush’s current record against Shi being 0-3, Vimal insists that the context matters. During their recent match at the Malaysia Open, Ayush put up a tough fight, nearly winning before Shi ultimately took the victory. In contrast, their final at the Asian Championships saw Shi dominate Ayush completely.
Vimal bluntly stated, “The last match at the Asian Championships was tough for Ayush; Shi didn’t allow him to get into the game.” This distinction between playing poorly and simply being outplayed is crucial, and it’s something Vimal believes can be addressed. Since April, Ayush has been working on improving his game, focusing on shot variety and rally construction with the help of coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, who also coaches PV Sindhu.
Ayush admires Viktor Axelsen, a player known for his completeness and patience on the court. At 6’4”, Ayush has the powerful smash, but Vimal wants him to use it wisely instead of all the time.
Ayush’s Preparation and Recent Form
Ayush has faced physical challenges as well, dealing with a forearm issue a few weeks ago. However, Vimal confirmed that he has fully recovered. Interestingly, Shi Yuqi’s form has taken a dip recently, as he has faced early exits in several tournaments, raising questions about his momentum leading into the World Championships.
Meanwhile, Ayush’s journey has also had its ups and downs. After a strong performance in Ningbo, he faced early eliminations but managed to reach the Round of 16 at the China Open. Vimal remains optimistic about Ayush, saying, “He’s beaten top players before, but he needs to mature quickly on the court.”
The upcoming match will test Ayush’s maturity and composure in critical moments. Gopichand believes Ayush has a good chance, and with the supportive mantra from Vimal, Ayush is ready to face this challenge head-on.
As Ayush heads into the tournament ranked 22, he knows that the number doesn’t matter on the court—all that counts is how he plays against Shi Yuqi on this crucial day.
