Ayush Shetty’s Winning Shot ‘Speaks Volumes of His Talent’, Says Coach Sagar Chopda After Historic Shi Yu Qi Upset

Ayush Shetty's stunning victory over defending champion and World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi at the BWF World Championships on Monday was built on several tactical elements, but according to his coach Sagar Chopda, it was one instinctive shot at the most pressurised moment that ultimately defined the Indian shuttler's biggest victory yet.

Shetty defeated Shi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in a thrilling first-round contest at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The 21-year-old Indian had looked in control after taking the opening game, but Shi fought back strongly in the second and then produced an extraordinary comeback in the deciding game.

Shetty had raced to a 16-5 lead in the third game, only for the Chinese star to reduce the deficit dramatically. Shi eventually saved four match points, leaving the home favourite under enormous pressure. With the momentum firmly shifting towards the World No. 1, Shetty produced the shot that ended the contest.

Shaping as though he would play the shuttle towards Shi's forehand side, the Indian changed direction at the last possible moment and executed a deceptive net flick into the opposite direction. Shi could not respond. It was the winner that sealed Shetty's first victory over the Chinese star after three previous defeats.

For Chopda, who has worked with Shetty for several years at an academy in Bengaluru, that final shot was a reflection of the player's natural ability.

"I am extremely happy with the way Ayush played that last shot. I mean, to play that at that moment speaks volumes of his talent," Chopda told the Badminton Association of India's YouTube channel during a post-match analysis.

Chopda explained that the winning stroke was not something suddenly produced under pressure. Shetty had been using the same variation throughout the match.

"He has always been good at that shot," Chopda said.

The coach pointed out that Shetty had used the deceptive stroke three or four times during the contest, including while receiving serve and at different stages of the third game.

For Chopda, that was significant because such shots are often instinctive rather than something that can simply be developed through coaching. "It is something that as kids, maybe you pick it up. It's not that as coaches, you can teach them this," he explained.

The timing of the shot was equally important.

According to Chopda, Shi had become increasingly alert around the net during his comeback and was ready for Shetty to play a conventional net shot. A straight net exchange could therefore have played directly into the Chinese player's hands. "If he had probably kept the shuttle at the net, Shi was ready for it," Chopda said.

The Chinese player had used his superior net awareness to win many of the points during his comeback. Shetty, meanwhile, had become slightly nervous as the enormous lead disappeared.

But the deceptive flick changed the situation instantly. "As soon as he played that shot, I knew that that was the winning moment," Chopda said.

While the final point showcased Shetty's individual talent, Chopda stressed that the victory was also the result of careful tactical preparation. Shetty came into the contest relaxed and produced an exceptionally composed opening game. His work with Indonesian coach Irwansyah has also played an important role in developing his tactical approach, according to Chopda.

One of the key instructions was to avoid becoming overly aggressive when Shi played high lifts. Shetty has at times been prone to rushing into powerful smashes from the back of the court, but against Shi he showed greater patience. "He used his net shots really well," Chopda said. "From the back of the court, he was not in a hurry to hit those hard smashes."

Instead, Shetty mixed his clears and lifts effectively, using the conditions and his positioning to open up the court. Chopda rated Shetty's first game as virtually perfect.

"Overall, it was 10-on-10 in the first game. There was never an ounce of doubt in his shots," he said.

While Shetty's attacking play attracted much of the attention, Chopda was particularly impressed by his defence. Shi possesses tremendous variation from both the back of the court and around the net, making him one of the most difficult players in the world to read. Shetty, however, was prepared for those variations.

"Shi is one of the best players in the world to have variations from everywhere. From the back of the court, from the net. So Ayush was ready for it. He was really good with his defence," Chopda explained. The defensive discipline allowed Shetty to remain in rallies without feeling compelled to finish points too early.

That patience ultimately became crucial when Shi began his third-game comeback. Chopda described the victory as Shetty's best win so far, an assessment that reflects the magnitude of the result.

Shi was not only the world No. 1 but also the defending world champion and top seed at the tournament. Shetty entered the match as an unseeded debutant with a 0-3 record against the Chinese star. That makes the manner of the victory even more impressive.

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Former Indian coach Vimal Kumar was also present in the stands during the match and provided valuable observations, Chopda revealed. But with the historic victory now secured, the coach knows that the tournament is far from over.

The challenge for Shetty is to recover physically and mentally before turning his attention to the second round.

"The job isn't done yet" is effectively the message from his camp.

The victory over Shi has announced Shetty on the biggest stage, but sustaining that level over the remainder of the World Championships will be the next test.

For now, though, one moment stands above everything else: with the defending champion closing in, four match points already saved, and the pressure at its highest, Ayush Shetty trusted his instinct. The deceptive flick found its target.

And with it came the biggest victory of his career.