India’s Ayush Shetty capped off a sensational week by clinching his maiden BWF World Tour title at the US Open on Sunday, defeating Canada’s Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13 in a dominant men’s singles final in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The 20-year-old became the first Indian shuttler to lift a World Tour title this season, ending the country’s drought for an overseas men’s singles title since Lakshya Sen’s 2023 Canada Open victory.
Ranked 34th in the world, Ayush delivered a commanding performance against World No. 33 Yang, securing the title in just 47 minutes. The win marked a significant milestone for the Karnataka shuttler, who had already shown promise with a bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championships.
Ayush’s path to the title included a series of impressive victories. He opened the tournament by overcoming Danish World No. 85 Magnus Johannesen in straight games, followed by a gritty three-game battle against compatriot Tharun Mannepalli. He then dispatched Taiwan’s Kuo Kuan Lin 22-20, 21-9 in the quarterfinals.
His biggest challenge came in the semifinals against top seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, ranked No. 6 globally. Having lost to Chou in the Taipei Open semifinals previously, Ayush turned the tables with a spirited 21-23, 21-15, 21-14 comeback win in a 67-minute thriller.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma made headlines despite finishing runner-up in the women’s singles final. Facing top seed and local favourite Beiwen Zhang, the teenager went down fighting 21-11, 16-21, 21-10. Still, Tanvi’s run was historic, she became the youngest Indian to reach a BWF World Tour final.
Currently ranked 66th in the world, Tanvi’s campaign was marked by big upsets and commanding wins. She stunned second seed Nguyen Thuy Linh in the opening round and then ousted former Junior World Champion Pitchamon Opatniputh. A clinical performance against Karupathevan Letshanaa and a semifinal victory over seventh seed Polina Buhrova capped her breakout run.
Despite falling short in the final, Tanvi’s performance signals a bright future, while Ayush Shetty’s triumph provides a much-needed boost for Indian badminton. As both players head into the rest of the season, their performances in Iowa offer promising signs for India’s next generation of stars on the world stage.
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