20-year-old Ayush Shetty survived a late fightback from defending World champion Shi Yuqi to secure a landmark victory in their first-round match.
Twenty-year-old Ayush Shetty registered one of the biggest victories of his career on Monday (August 17, 2026), defeating World No. 1 and defending World champion Shi Yuqi of China in their first-round match.
The roller-coaster match saw the two players share a game each before a tense final game. Shetty appeared to be cruising in the decider before Yuqi fought back from an 11-point deficit to come within striking distance of a comeback, though Shetty held on for the win.
Speaking after the victory, a drained Shetty described his emotions: "Feeling really great, it’s a special win and I am really happy with the way I played today."
Addressing the tight third game, Shetty admitted feeling nervous during his opponent's late push. "I knew it would be tough and I would have to work hard. But I was mentally and physically prepared. I kept telling myself to calm down [in the 3rd game] because it getting a bit nervous. He was catching up, the momentum was with him and he was managing to return everything I did," Shetty said.
Yuqi credited Shetty for the outcome, clarifying that he had no physical troubles. "There are no fitness issues or physical problems, Ayush played well and won," Yuqi said. Explaining his strategy during the final game, Yuqi added that his focus was on "maintaining composure and preparing for tactical adjustments once the sides are switched and adapting strategy to use the drift to come back."
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.