India, Aug. 17 -- Ayush Shetty pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships, knocking out defending champion Shi Yu Qi in a thrilling three-game battle at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi.

The odds were firmly against the Indian shuttler. Ranked No. 20 in the world, Shetty was up against the world No. 1 and defending champion, with few giving the young Indian much of a chance against one of the tournament favourites. But Shetty produced a performance that matched the occasion, beating Shi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a dramatic round-of-64 contest.

From the opening point, the home crowd made its presence felt. Court 1 was packed with fans eager to watch the Indian player, and Shetty soon had their full attention. Ev...