Ayush Shetty: When altitude gives hope as India Open debut looms | Badminton News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: At 6 feet tall, Ayush Shetty doesn’t quite fit on a badminton court. He looms, he stretches the geometry of rallies, and when he unloads his attack from the backcourt, the shuttle seems to descend from a different height. Over the past two years, Ayush has quietly built a compelling case, as India’s next big singles hope: someone who combines youthful aggression with an indispensable physical presence.Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Now 20, he is on the cusp of the elite, having broken into the world’s top 30 and claimed his first BWF World Tour title at the 2025 US Open Super 300. Last week, Malaysia’s Ayush defeated Lee Zii Jia, the Paris Olympics bronze medalist, at the Malaysia Open Super 1000. It wasn’t just a win that shocked the draw; it was a marker. Indian men’s singles, long anchored by the likes of Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen, now has another towering presence knocking on the door, armed with a game built for the modern age.

Ayush’s rise is stable. The first big sign came in 2023 when he took bronze at the World Junior Championships. On the senior circuit, he finished second at the 2023 Odisha Masters Super 100 tournament.The next year saw Ayush come close with greatness. Training with two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen offered him more than just high-quality rallies. “Training with Viktor… it was special,” Ayush told TOI on Monday. “You learn a lot from him. He has given me some input, which has been very useful. I have been able to see first-hand how he manages himself both on and off the field. The intensity of his training, the discipline.””

Comparisons inevitably followed. Two towering figures, both instinctively aggressive, both capable of pulling off rallies with brute force. “I think we have a pretty similar game. We both like to attack,” he said. “It’s very nice to know that my name is ‘Axelsen van India’, but I think I would like to chart my own path. Viktor is someone I have looked up to. He is my idol. He is a complete player. He has achieved everything. So I don’t think there is any comparison.”Height, as Axelsen himself once discovered, is both a gift and a challenge. Ayush is well aware of that duality. “He talked about the pros and cons of being very tall,” Ayush said of the conversations he had with Axelsen.“Growing up, he wasn’t really good on defense. That’s something I’m dealing with now, but I’m working on that aspect of my game.” For tall players, the test is often closer to the net. The front court movement is very tough. You really have to be physically strong and have strong legs.”Ayush has his eyes set on the elite of world badminton. With wins over top players cementing his belief, he is no longer just happy to compete. “The goal is to rise in the rankings. My goal is to be in the top 10 by the end of the year,” he said. That mentality will be tested again when he opens his India Open campaign against Lakshya Sen. Their recent encounters were close, but the results went Lakshya’s way. “I think we played some great games last year. I hope we can play another great game, but I am on the winning side,” Ayush said.