Badminton Asia Championships: Ayush Shetty topples World No. 4 Jonatan Christie, storms into semifinals
Ningbo, April 10
India's rising star Ayush Shetty delivered yet another major upset, defeating World No. 4 and Olympian Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 23-21, 21-17 at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China.
Twenty-year-old Ayush, who had won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023, displayed a remarkable performance under pressure.
The opening game was a tight contest, with Christie holding the advantage and reaching game point with a two-point lead. Ayush, however, held his nerve, saved two game points, and edged ahead to take the game 23-21, according to a press release.
The second game saw both players level scores multiple times before Ayush took control at 10-9. From there, the Indian maintained his lead and closed out the match 21-17 in 54 minutes, extending his winning streak without dropping a single game in the tournament so far.
Earlier in the tournament, Shetty knocked out China's Li Shi Feng, World no. 7, in straight sets, before repeating the trick against Chinese Taipei's Chi Yu Jen in the pre-quarters.
Shetty will next face the winner of the clash between World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn and China's Weng Hong Yang, runner-up at the China Masters 2025.
— ANI
Reader Comments
His mental strength is amazing. Saving two game points against a player of Christie's caliber in the first game shows he's not just talented, he's a fighter. Go Ayush!
First Li Shi Feng, now Jonatan Christie! He's taking down giants one by one. I hope the media and BAI give him consistent support now, not just when he wins. We need to nurture this talent properly.
Watching from the US. This is fantastic news for global badminton! A new young champion emerging is always exciting. Best of luck in the semis, Ayush!
Bahut badhiya! The way he maintained control in the second game after a nervy first shows great maturity. Sindhu and Srikanth have a worthy successor. Let's bring the championship home, beta!
As a badminton fan, Christie is a tough opponent. For Shetty to beat him in straight games is a statement win. The semifinal will be a huge test, but he's clearly fearless.
So proud! But a small note: let's not put too much pressure on him by calling him the "next big thing" after one tournament. Let him grow at his own pace
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