India witnessed mixed fortunes at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo on Thursday, with young shuttler Ayush Shetty emerging as the standout performer while seasoned stars P. V. Sindhu and H. S. Prannoy bowed out in the round of 16.
The 20-year-old Ayush continued his impressive run, securing a dominant straight-games victory over Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen, winning 21-16, 21-12 in just 41 minutes. This follows his stunning opening-round upset against World No. 7 Li Shi Feng, underlining his growing stature on the international stage.
Displaying maturity beyond his years, Ayush used his height advantage effectively, delivering steep smashes and controlling rallies with sharp net play. After a tight start in the first game, he fought back from a deficit to take control, capitalising on his opponent’s errors. In the second game, Ayush dictated terms early and maintained his momentum to seal a comfortable win.
He will now face Indonesia’s defending champion Jonatan Christie in the quarterfinals, a high-stakes clash that will test the young Indian’s credentials further.
In contrast, it was a disappointing outing for Sindhu, who was playing her first tournament in over two months. The two-time Olympic medallist struggled against China’s World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi, going down 18-21, 8-21 in straight games. Sindhu showed brief resistance in the opening game but could not match the intensity of her opponent thereafter.
India’s campaign in women’s singles ended completely as Unnati Hooda also suffered a straight-games defeat to Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki.
Meanwhile, Prannoy, returning from a shoulder injury, was unable to find his rhythm and lost 12-21, 19-21 to China’s Weng Hong Yang. Despite a better showing in the second game, the Indian shuttler could not force a decider.
The doubles events also proved challenging for the Indian contingent. The mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto went down in straight games, while the women’s doubles duo of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra were comprehensively beaten by Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto.
While several experienced names exited earlier than expected, Ayush Shetty’s breakthrough run has provided a bright spark for India, keeping hopes alive in the tournament as he prepares for a crucial quarterfinal showdown.
