India, April 12 -- Given the run of form that he has had at the $550,000 Badminton Asia Championships, Ayush Shetty had raised Indian hopes ahead of the men's singles final on Sunday.

Having beaten four world class opponents, three of them among the world's top seven, the unheralded 20-year-old surprised one and all with his electric run to the final, ready to challenge for an elusive gold that has come India's way only twice in the 64-year-old history of the tournament.

But it wasn't to be as reigning world champion and home favourite Shi Yu Qi proved too formidable an opponent for Shetty, who lost 8-21, 10-21 in 42 minutes to end a special run in Ningbo, China as runner-up.

It is a rare bright spark for India in the annual tournament...