India’s Ayush Shetty produced a superb performance to beat top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Witedsaran in a thrilling three-game encounter to book his place in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships on Saturday. The win ensures that Ayush will return with at least a silver medal. World No. 25, Ayush overturned a slow start by relying on a combination of quick attacking play and solid defense to claim a 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 win over the Paris Olympics silver medalist and 2023 world champion. In doing so, he became the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna to reach the final of the tournament. Khanna is the only Indian to win a gold medal in the event, achieving the feat in 1965, while Satok Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the doubles title in 2023. The US Open Super 300 champion will next face Chu Tien Chen or Shi Yuqi in the final. Ayush had progressed through the tournament without dropping a game but had previously lost in straight games to Whittaker at the Arctic Open last year. The semi-final opened with the Thai dictating proceedings, using pace and accuracy to take an early lead and comfortably dominate the early game. After the interval, however, Aayush raised his level significantly. He started the second game with intent, taking early advantage as unforced errors from Witidsrun increased. Showing excellent court coverage and quick counter-attacks, Ayush maintained control despite a short dip that allowed his opponent to close the gap. He eventually forced a decider with a composed finish under pressure. Ayush continued the momentum in the final game. He tightened up his defense, got tough shots, and consistently applied pressure with aggressive strokes. Better reading his opponent, he maintained a steady lead before taking full command in the closing stages. Despite a late fightback from Wittedsaran, Ayush remained calm, creating a number of match chances and eventually sealing a memorable victory with a precise down-the-line smash to complete a stunning comeback.
