World No.1 Shi Yuqi nearly knocked out of Malaysia Open 2026 by Indian prodigy

The match between the reigning World Champion Shi Yuqi and the 20-year-old Ayush Shetty was a 70-minute marathon that captivated the crowd at the Axiata Arena. Right from the start, Shetty showed no fear, using his 6’4″ frame to dominate the net and aiming for the corners to take an early 11-8 lead. 

Shi Yuqi appeared rattled, struggling to read Shetty’s deceptive "jhatka" shots. However, the experienced Chinese star regained his composure to level the score at 12-12 and eventually 17-17. Despite Shetty’s stout defense, Shi Yuqi’s clinical finishing allowed him to take the first set 21-18.

In the second set, Shetty stepped up a gear. He combined powerful down-the-line smashes with delicate net play to build a 15-11 lead. Even as Shi Yuqi closed the gap to 16-15, the young Indian remained undaunted, pulling away to 19-15 before sealing the set 21-18 to force a decider. 

Unfortunately, the physical toll of the match became evident in the third set. Shetty’s fitness began to fade, and he fell behind 7-13 quickly. Shi Yuqi took advantage of this exhaustion, amping up his pace to finish the match with a 21-12 victory. Although Shetty lost the battle, his performance sent a clear warning to the badminton elite.

This victory adds to a difficult opening week for Shi Yuqi. In the first round, the top seed had to sweat through two incredibly close sets to defeat Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke. 

Following this exhausting win over Shetty, Shi Yuqi is scheduled to face another tough challenge in the quarter-finals against the winner of the match between Lakshya Sen and Lee Cheuk Yiu, which is set to take place on Friday.

Ayush Shetty has emerged as one of India's most promising talents in recent years. Before pushing the World No. 1 to the limit, Shetty caused a massive stir in the opening round by upsetting the local favorite and Olympic bronze medalist Lee Zii Jia in straight sets, 21-12, 21-17. 

Known for his tactical intelligence and reach, Shetty’s career has been on a steady upward trajectory. He previously made headlines by winning the US Open and defeating former world champion Loh Kean Yew. 

Notably, as a junior player, his most significant achievement was winning a bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Championships, marking him as a future cornerstone of Indian badminton.