In a stunning upset at the Hong Kong Open Super 500, young Indian badminton sensation Ayush Shetty pulled off the tournament’s biggest shock by defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, the 2023 World Championships silver medallist. The 20-year-old from Karnataka powered into the men’s singles quarterfinals on Thursday, showcasing his bold and fearless style.
Ayush, fresh off his U.S. Open Super 300 triumph in June, battled the former world No. 2 in a nail-biting three-game thriller that lasted 72 minutes. He clinched the win 21-19, 12-21, 21-14 with sharp shots and excellent court coverage, especially in the deciding game where he took full control. This marks the biggest victory of Ayush’s rising career in badminton.
Now, Ayush faces an exciting all-Indian clash against his training partner Lakshya Sen in the quarterfinals. Both stars train at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, making it a friendly yet fierce showdown.
Lakshya, ranked 20th in the world, also impressed with a strong comeback win over fellow Indian HS Prannoy. The 23-year-old fought back after losing the first game, securing a 15-21, 21-18, 21-10 victory. He ramped up his attacks to force errors and turned a 9-13 deficit in the third game into a dominant finish. This is Lakshya’s first BWF World Tour quarterfinal since March, ending a tough six-month stretch hit by injuries and ups and downs.
India’s success didn’t end with the singles. Top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lived up to their reputation, beating Thailand’s Chaloempon Sukphun and Nanthakarn Teeraratsakul in three games. The world No. 9 duo, who grabbed bronze at the recent Paris World Championships, recovered from an 18-21 opening loss to win 21-15, 21-11 with a commanding performance.
Next up for Satwik and Chirag is a quarterfinal against Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap. Indian badminton fans have plenty to cheer as these stars shine on the international stage.
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