Ayush Shetty's inspiring run at the Orleans Masters Super 300 came to an end in the semifinals, but not before the 19-year-old gave a strong glimpse of his potential and making him one to watch out for Indian badminton.
Shetty, ranked 48 in the world, went down to world No 14 Lin Chun Yi 13-21, 15-21 in 40 minutes, undone by his opponent's speed in attack. The Indian started really well, taking a 6-3 lead before Lin levelled things at 7-7 and went on a run of 7 straight points with precise points, eventually clinching it easily. The second game was much closer with things level by 8-8, before Shetty seemed to lose some steam, understandably after a long week for the youngster.
Nonetheless, this has been a week to remember for the youngster. In a men's singles field that had a near full-strength Indian contingent (HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Kiran George, Priyanshu Rajawat and co.) that it was teen Shetty who was the last man standing is a creditable achievement.
More so as it appeared that Shetty was improving with every match he played in the French city, taking on established players.
The strapping 6 feet 4 inch teenager has good reach thanks to his height and wingspan, which he has employed well. Shetty, who now trains at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore, can play a sharp, attacking game with deft touch at the net. A World Junior bronze medallist in 2023, he's still transitioning to the senior level and this week showed that he has all the raw materials needed to make a mark.
Ayush Shetty and Lin Chun-Yi compete for a spot in the finals. 🏸#BWFWorldTour #OrleansMasters2025 pic.twitter.com/UQmBp7byfU
- BWF (@bwfmedia) March 8, 2025
In his first match, he beat former world champion and third seed Loh Kean Yew, in what could have been considered a flash in the pan as the Singaporean looked less than 100%. Still, it was a morale-boosting win for the teen, who channelled it for a game-changing week ahead.
The second match, against Jason Gunawan, who he had lost to twice before, saw him learn from his past mistakes and reverse the losses for a 21-17, 21-17 win.
The quarterfinal, against former Top 10 player Rasmus Gemke, was perhaps the best indication of him learning on the run. Shetty has two match points in the second game but squandered them before getting over the line in the third in what was a thriller. His 21-16, 21-23, 21-17 - in a marathon match that lasted 81 minutes - required mental wherewithal and endurance that may not always be attributes of a teenager. But Shetty was composed and held his nerve when it mattered.
The toll of that probably showed in his semifinal against World No 14 Lin Chun Yi, as he couldn't keep up with his opponent's speed. There were some signs of frustration as Lin's smashes caught him off guard, showing that he has much to learn.
This week will have increased his confidence at the high level, though which should set him up well for the weeks ahead as he looks to sharpen his skills. Still ranked a way away from direct main draws at the highest level, Shetty has his task cut out at the slightly lower run. But with results like this at Super 300 events, there is much to look forward to from him as Indian badminton follower.