Ayush Shetty’s Moment of Glory: Upsets World No. 6 to Reach First Super 300 Final at US Open 2025
In a defining moment for his young career, 20-year-old Ayush Shetty delivered the performance of a lifetime at the Yonex US Open 2025, stunning World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in a three-game thriller 21-23, 21-15, 21-14 to reach his maiden BWF Super 300 final. The Indian fourth seed showcased extraordinary grit and composure to overcome a shaky first game and script his biggest career victory on the world stage.
This win also marks Ayush’s first-ever final at a Super 300+ World Tour event, a reward for his persistence after two previous semifinal exits earlier in the year. It’s a breakthrough not just for Ayush but also a significant moment in Indian badminton’s singles resurgence.
The Match: A Three-Game Epic
The semifinal clash began on an intense note, with Ayush trading rallies neck-and-neck with Chou Tien Chen. Ayush had leads of 17-11 and 19-14 in the first game, but nerves and experience tilted the balance in Chou’s favour, who clinched the opener 23-21. Many young players may have crumbled at that point, but Ayush rebounded with laser focus.
In the second game, Ayush raised his attacking tempo, forced errors from the top seed, and dominated the net to take it 21-15. The third and final game was all Ayush he showed superior fitness and precision under pressure, pulling away to close out the match 21-14, triggering roars from the Indian camp and applause from a stunned crowd.
Road to the Final
Ayush Shetty’s run at the US Open has been nothing short of spectacular. Seeded fourth, he began his campaign with a composed 21-17, 21-19 win over Denmark’s Mads Juel Johannesen in the Round of 32. In the pre-quarterfinals, he battled past compatriot Tharun Mannepalli in three games (21-12, 13-21, 21-15), showing early signs of his fighting spirit.
His quarterfinal performance was even more dominant Ayush breezed past Kuo Kuan Lin of Chinese Taipei 22-20, 21-9 in a clinical showing. The semifinal win over Chou Tien Chen, however, will be remembered as the turning point a match that elevated him from a promising junior to a serious world tour contender.
India in Focus: Historic Finals Ahead
Ayush Shetty’s achievement is further magnified by the fact that fellow Indian teen Tanvi Sharma has also stormed into the women’s singles final at the same event. This is only the second time in BWF World Tour history that two Indian singles players have reached the finals of a World Tour event held outside India.
The last time it happened was at the 2022 Swiss Open, when PV Sindhu reached the women’s final (which she won against Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan) while HS Prannoy made the men’s final (losing to Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie). Now, in 2025, the US Open has become the stage for another proud chapter Ayush Shetty in the men’s final, and Tanvi Sharma in the women’s final.
Indian Men’s Singles in S300+ Finals (Outside India)
With this final appearance, Ayush Shetty joins an elite group of Indian men’s singles players who’ve reached a Super 300 or higher final outside India during the BWF World Tour era. The list includes:
- Lakshya Sen
- Kidambi Srikanth
- HS Prannoy
- Sameer Verma
- Priyanshu Rajawat
- Ayush Shetty
This consistency across generations signifies the growing depth in India’s men’s singles pool.
The Final Test: Ayush vs Brian Yang
In the final, Ayush will face third seed Brian Yang of Canada, another emerging talent on the world stage. Yang, known for his speed and powerful backcourt game, has been consistent through the draw. It will be a battle of flair versus finesse Ayush’s calm and precise control at the net against Yang’s relentless aggression.
Both players are vying for their biggest career title, and Ayush will carry the momentum of having beaten a top-10 player. A win here would be not only a personal triumph but also a huge boost for Indian badminton, which is building toward a new generation of singles champions.
The Bigger Picture: A New Star Rises
Ayush Shetty’s rise has been steadily in motion, but this week in the United States may very well be his coming-of-age moment. With multiple deep runs at Super 300 events in 2025, his consistency has been rewarded. But the win over Chou Tien Chen sets him apart it was a match that demanded physical endurance, mental resolve, and tactical discipline.
He’s shown that he can not only compete with but defeat some of the world’s best. And at just 20, his ceiling is far from reached.
With the Olympic cycle building toward Los Angeles 2028, Ayush’s emergence couldn’t be better timed. He, along with Tanvi Sharma and other young stars, could define the next era of Indian badminton.
For now, all eyes are on the US Open 2025 finals, where Ayush Shetty, the boy from India who dared to believe, stands one step away from his maiden World Tour title.
