Indian badminton's rising star, Ayush Shetty, has kicked off his new season with a statement victory. The World No. 32 from Mangalore scored a significant win over Malaysia's recovering Olympic bronze medallist, Lee Zii Jia, in the first round of the season's opening major event. Shetty secured the match in straight games, 21-12, 21-17, showcasing remarkable composure against a seasoned opponent known for dramatic comebacks.
A Test of Nerves Against a Maverick
The match was far from a straightforward affair. Lee Zii Jia, a name etched in Indian badminton memory for his heartbreaking comeback against Lakshya Sen at the Paris Olympics, is currently ranked World No. 144 after an injury layoff since September. However, his reputation as a formidable aggressor and a master of flipping matches remained intact. Shetty started strong, dominating the first set with a consistent lead. The second set, however, turned into a classic test of nerve.
After establishing a 6-3 lead, Shetty saw the Malaysian launch a four-point rally. The tension peaked when the score reached 10-10. Lee visibly shifted gears, threatening a repeat of his Olympic heroics. In a crucial moment, the Malaysian brilliantly retrieved two powerful smashes aimed at his body, leaving the young Indian momentarily baffled and taking an 11-10 lead.
Shetty's Smart Recovery and Tactical Shift
This potential turning point became a vital lesson for the 20-year-old Indian. Instead of persisting with hyper-aggressive attacks, Shetty wisely recalibrated his strategy. He began using clever positioning and varied shuttle placement to scatter the rallies, refusing to be drawn into Lee's preferred fast-paced parallel exchanges. The key to his recovery lay in a different weapon: his net play.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Shetty started posing intricate net riddles with his no-frills tumbles. This tactical shift forced errors from Lee, who struggled with his lifts and net shots. From being down 10-12, Shetty displayed his own resilience to surge ahead to 14-12. Throughout the match, his containing length on the shuttle effectively neutralized Lee's attacking prowess, which was further hampered by his recent injury.
Closing Out the Match and The Road Ahead
The final stages saw pressure from the home crowd, with banners urging "Keep Fighting Lee Zii Jia." With the score at a tricky 15-17, Shetty demonstrated his finishing ability. He survived the intense parallel exchanges and then used superb net poise to take a 19-17 lead. Capitalizing on Lee's lack of sharpness at the net, Shetty collected the final points. After 40 minutes, a shuttle sent wide by the Malaysian sealed a brilliant season-opening win for the Indian.
This impressive victory, however, sets up an immediate and daunting challenge. Ayush Shetty now runs straight into the tournament's top seed and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in the second round. This match will be the ultimate test of his early-season form and a chance to make an even bigger splash on the global stage.
In other Indian news from the event, Lakshya Sen also advanced to the second round, but had to fight hard for his win. He overcame Singapore's Jia Heng Jason Teh (World No. 21) in a three-game battle that lasted 70 minutes, with a scoreline of 21-16, 15-21, 21-14. Sen is set to play Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu next.
