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India’s Ayush Shetty stormed into the final with a stunning three-game win over World No. 1 and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, assuring himself of at least a silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships here on Saturday.
The World No. 25 Indian scripted a sensational 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 comeback win over Vitidsarn — the Paris Olympics silver medallist and 2023 world champion — in a 75-minute semi-final clash.
Vitidsarn dictated play early, racing to a 11-5 lead in the opening game with a flurry of smashes and disguised returns. Vitidsarn’s ability to switch from defence to offence in a flash helped him extend his lead to 18-9. A cross-court smash earned him 10 game points, and he sealed it comfortably when Shetty went wide.
Sharp start to second game
In the second game, Shetty made a much sharper start, leading 11-4 through a series of full-length dives and rapid counter-attacks, while Vitidsarn began to commit unforced errors. However, the Thai ace clawed things back to 13-11 as Shetty committed a string of errors. But the Indian regained control with a backhand flick at the net that saw him grab six game points. Although Vitidsarn saved five game points, Shetty held his nerve and sealed the game with a trademark down-the-line smash.
Shetty in cruise control
Shetty was in complete control for most of the third game, opening up a 19-13 lead with a series of attacking strokes, including a cross-court smash and a delicate drop. Shetty stayed composed, earning four match points with another cross-court winner before sealing victory with a down-the-line smash. The 20-year-old will face second seeded Chinese Shi Yu Qi in the final.
Interestingly, Dinesh Khanna is the only Indian to win the men’s singles gold at the tournament (1965). Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the doubles title in 2023.
61
No. of years since the last Indian (Dinesh Khanna) reached the men’s singles final at the Badminton Asia C’ships
First
This was Shetty’s maiden win over Vitidsarn; The Indian had lost his only other match vs the Thai at the Arctic Open (2025)
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