Ayush Shetty advanced to the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China.
The 20-year-old Indian, ranked World No. 25, defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen, World No. 20, in straight games 21-16, 21-12 on Thursday.
Shetty had already stunned the tournament by beating China’s Li Shi Feng, World No. 7, in the opening round. His back-to-back victories over higher-ranked opponents have cemented his reputation as one of India’s brightest badminton prospects. He now faces Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, the third seed, with a semifinal spot at stake.
Meanwhile, HS Prannoy crashed out in the Round of 16 after losing to China’s Weng Hong Yang 12-21, 19-21. Prannoy expressed frustration over the absence of Hawkeye technology, calling it unacceptable for a Super 1000 event. PV Sindhu also exited after losing to World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi in straight games 21-18, 21-8.
Lakshya Sen, Malvika Bansod, and Tanvi Sharma suffered early defeats, leaving Shetty as India’s only men’s singles player still in contention. His progress offers hope for Indian fans amid a string of disappointing exits.
