Ayush Shetty, still only 20, is steadily carving out a place for himself in the upper ranks of world badminton.
At the 2025 YONEX US Open, a BWF Super 300 event, Shetty has once again reached the semifinals his third Super 300 semifinal appearance of the year reinforcing his position as one of India’s most promising singles players on the senior circuit.
His latest statement came in the quarterfinals, where he defeated 2022 World Junior Champion Kuo Kuan Lin of Chinese Taipei in straight games, 22-20, 21-9. The match showcased both Shetty’s maturity under pressure and his ability to turn momentum swiftly in his favour.
Down 18-20 in the opening game, Shetty showed composure to level the score, eventually taking the game 22-20. The comeback seemed to drain his opponent more than it lifted him, as the second game turned into a one-sided affair. Shetty raced through with minimal errors, outmaneuvering Kuo with superior court control and pace. The 21-9 second game result underlined how far he has come in terms of mental and physical readiness for high-pressure contests.
Strong Run in California
Shetty’s path to the semifinals at the US Open 2025 has been built on consistent performances across three rounds. Starting as the fourth seed, the Indian shuttler opened his campaign with a straight-games win over Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen, 21-17, 21-19. While the margin was tight in the second game, Shetty maintained clarity in his shot choices and didn’t allow the Danish player to stretch rallies beyond his control.
In the Round of 16, he faced fellow Indian Tharun Mannepalli. It turned into a three-game battle, with Shetty taking the opener 21-12 before conceding the second game 13-21. In the decider, he held his nerve to close it out 21-15. The match served as a useful test of endurance and decision-making, which came in handy in the more tactical quarterfinal against Kuo.
Climbing Steadily in 2025
The semifinal at the US Open marks Ayush Shetty’s third appearance at this stage of a Super 300 World Tour event in 2025. Earlier this year, he reached the semifinals at the Odisha Open and the Thailand International Challenge. Though he fell short of a final berth on those occasions, his consistency in progressing to the latter stages of tournaments is beginning to define his season.
Shetty, ranked World No. 34 and India’s No. 2 men’s singles player, has become one of the few Indian players consistently reaching the business end of World Tour events outside the top 30. His footwork and shot selection have improved markedly over the past year, and his court coverage has helped him match and beat more experienced opponents.
The semifinal will see Shetty take on top seed Chou Tien Chen, the veteran from Chinese Taipei. Chou, a former World No. 2 and one of the sport’s most experienced competitors, represents Shetty’s biggest test of the tournament. Their last encounter in May 2025 ended in a straight-game loss for Shetty in the semifinals of another S300 event. Scores of 18-21, 17-21 in that match showed Shetty was competitive, but still searching for that final step in execution and endurance.
This rematch gives the 20-year-old a valuable second shot and an opportunity to showcase the improvements he’s made in recent weeks.
More Than Just A Flash
Ayush’s rise isn’t just a one-tournament story. Over the last 18 months, the Bengaluru-born shuttler has steadily climbed the world rankings, picking up key wins against mid-ranked players and learning to close out tight matches something that previously eluded many Indian players early in their careers.
His defensive stability has always been a strong point, but it is his ability to shift gears during rallies that is becoming more visible now. The win against Kuo Kuan Lin was a clear example of this turning defense into attack and maintaining pressure without rushing points. His coaches have also emphasized his growing fitness levels and focus during training blocks between tournaments.
India’s Next Contender?
With the Paris Olympic cycle now over, Indian men’s singles badminton is undergoing a transitional phase. Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy remain the country’s top names, but both have had injury interruptions and patchy form through 2025. In this context, Ayush Shetty’s emergence as a consistent performer on the World Tour adds much-needed depth to the national setup.
He may still be a year or two away from regularly challenging the Top 20, but with the right tournament calendar, continued exposure, and physical development, Shetty looks likely to become a permanent fixture on the main circuit.
Next Up: A Shot at the Final
For now, all attention turns to his semifinal match against Chou Tien Chen. A win would give Shetty his first-ever appearance in a World Tour final a major career milestone and another step forward in his development. Even if he falls short, reaching three S300 semifinals before turning 21 is no small feat.
Ayush Shetty is no longer flying under the radar. The US Open 2025 may yet become the tournament that transforms his potential into tangible success.
