Indian badminton player Ayush Shetty pulled off a stunning victory over world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi, a win that coach Vimal Kumar had foreseen. The match took place at the 2026 BWF World Championships in Tokyo, where Shetty, ranked 32nd, defeated the Chinese star in straight games (21-18, 21-17) on August 18, 2026.
Vimal Kumar, who has coached Shetty since 2021, had predicted the upset in a pre-tournament interview, saying, 'Ayush has the game to beat anyone on his day. I won't be surprised if he takes down a top seed here.' Shetty's aggressive net play and precise smashes neutralized Shi Yu Qi's defensive style, a strategy Kumar had drilled into his protégé.
This win marks Shetty's first victory over a top-10 player and propels him into the quarterfinals, where he will face Indonesia's Jonatan Christie. The 22-year-old from Bengaluru has been rising steadily, with a semifinal appearance at the 2025 All England Open and a bronze at the 2024 Thomas Cup.
Shi Yu Qi, who had won the last two world titles, was aiming for a third consecutive crown. His early exit is a major talking point, but Shetty's performance has been widely praised by badminton analysts for its tactical maturity and composure under pressure.
