U.S. Open Champion Ayush Shetty Tipped for World Top-10 After Breakthrough Victory

Ayush Shetty’s stunning victory at the U.S. Open has firmly positioned the young Karnataka shuttler as Indian badminton’s next big prospect, with his coaches predicting a bright future on the global stage.

The 21-year-old, who trains at the prestigious Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) in Bengaluru, claimed his first major international title on Monday, marking a significant turning point in his career. PPBA head coach Sagar Chopda believes the triumph is only the beginning for Ayush.

“Ayush’s initial target was to be a top-25 player by the end of the year. With this kind of performance, this is definitely within his reach,” said Sagar. “In the long term, Ayush is a world top-10 player for sure. He has a very bright future.”

A product of hard work and early promise, Ayush began his badminton journey in Karkala before moving to Bengaluru as a pre-teen to pursue the sport seriously. He trained at i-SPORTS under the guidance of Krishna Kumar before joining PPBA in 2021. Sagar was quick to acknowledge the role played by Ayush’s early mentors. “A lot of credit goes to (i-SPORTS Founder and Head Coach) Krishna Kumar for shaping Ayush into what he is today,” he noted.

The recent victory underscores Ayush’s maturity and strength in key areas of the game. “He has a good net game and a solid smash. With a good net game, he creates a lot of openings with a good tumble. And post that, his smashes are really sound,” Sagar explained. “While a lot of players have to develop this, Ayush always had it in him. And he’s not scared to hit. Even if he loses a point, it’s okay with him.”

Despite his success, there are areas for growth, particularly in defence. “Ayush must continue to work on his defensive game — a key element in combating the world’s best,” Sagar added.

With the PPBA team behind him and a growing belief in his abilities, the focus now shifts to consistency. “All of us just have to keep working with him. This win is a good confidence booster for him going forward,” Sagar said.

Ayush Shetty’s journey from a small town in Karnataka to international stardom is a testament to his dedication and talent — and if his coaches are right, the best is yet to come.