Ayush Shetty beats world no.1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn to reach badminton Asia final

India’s rising badminton star Ayush Shetty produced a career defining performance on Saturday, storming into the final of the Badminton Asia Championships with a sensational comeback win over top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in Ningbo, China.

In a high intensity semifinal that tested both skill and temperament, Ayush recovered brilliantly after dropping the opening game 10–21. He then turned the match around with sharp attacking play , improved net control and solid defence, taking the next two games 21–19, 21–17 to seal a memorable victory over the Paris Olympic silver medallist and former world champion.

With this win, the world No. 25 assured himself at least a silver medal and created history by becoming the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna to reach the final of the prestigious continental tournament. Khanna remains India’s only men’s singles gold medallist at the Badminton Asia Championships, a title he won in 1965.

Ayush, who had earlier claimed the US Open Super 300 title, has been steadily rising on the international circuit with confident performances. His latest triumph is being viewed as a breakthrough moment for Indian men’s singles badminton , a category that has long searched for consistent presence at the elite level.

In the final, Ayush will face either Chinese Taipei’s fourth seed Chou Tien Chen or China’s second seed Shi Yu Qi , setting up a tough title clash against top-ranked opposition.

The Badminton Asia Championships final will be played on Sunday, April 12, in Ningbo, China , where Ayush will aim to convert his historic run into a landmark gold for India.