India, Aug. 17 -- Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships 2026 on Monday, defeating defending champion and World No.1 Shi Yu Qi in the opening round in New Delhi. The 21-year-old Indian, playing at the World Championships for the first time, held his nerve to beat the Chinese star 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 and register his first victory over Shi after three previous defeats. The win also came against a player who had beaten him in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships earlier this year.
Standing at 6ft 4in, Shetty possesses the kind of reach and physical presence that immediately sets him apart on the badminton court. But his rise has not been built on his height alone. The Karnataka shuttler has sp...