In a defining moment for Indian badminton, 20-year-old Ayush Shetty emerged as the champion of the US Open 2025 (BWF Super 300), becoming the first Indian this season to win a BWF World Tour title.
The youngster defeated Canada’s Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13 in the final, capping off an extraordinary week in Fort Worth, Texas.
This is India’s first men’s singles World Tour title outside the country in 406 days, and also the first in any discipline at the US Open since H.S. Prannoy won in 2017. Ayush’s victory marks a significant moment in the generational transition for Indian badminton and a powerful statement of intent from a player rapidly rising through the ranks.
A Dominant Campaign
Ayush’s path to the title was far from easy. Starting from the Round of 32, he had to dig deep in multiple matches:
- R32: def. Magnus Johannesen (DEN) 21-17, 21-19
- R16: def. Tharun Mannepalli (IND) 21-12, 13-21, 21-15
- QF: def. Kuo Kuan Lin (TPE) 22-20, 21-9
- SF: def. Chou Tien Chen (TPE) 21-23, 21-15, 21-14
- Final: def. Brian Yang (CAN) 21-18, 21-13
The semifinal against World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen was a career-defining moment. After narrowly losing the opening game 21-23, Ayush displayed remarkable composure and stamina to win the next two games, 21-15 and 21-14. It was arguably the biggest win of his career so far and demonstrated his ability to compete against elite opponents.
Breaking Records and Creating Milestones
Ayush’s title win ends a significant drought for Indian men’s singles on the World Tour. He becomes:
- The first Indian MS player to win a title on foreign soil since Lakshya Sen’s Canada Open 2023 victory.
- The first Indian to win a BWF World Tour title in 2025.
- The 5th Indian men’s singles player to win a Super 300+ event after Lakshya Sen, H.S. Prannoy, Sameer Verma, and Priyanshu Rajawat.
- The 4th different Indian MS champion at the Super 300 level.
This is also India’s 8th men’s singles title at the BWF World Tour (Super 300 or above) level.
He earns USD $18,000 as prize money, but more importantly, he leaps up to a career-high World No. 31 in the BWF rankings, setting himself up for a direct entry into bigger tournaments and improving his qualification chances for marquee events.
A Glimpse of the Next Generation
Ayush Shetty’s rise has not gone unnoticed over the past year. A former junior talent with a silver medal at the World Junior Championships, Ayush has steadily made the leap to senior-level success. His win at the US Open 2025 signals his readiness to shoulder India’s future in men’s singles alongside established names like Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy.
He has shown composure in tight moments, shot-making versatility, and a mental edge that is rare for someone his age. Victories over world-class players like Chou Tien Chen, and a commanding performance in the final against a skilled opponent like Brian Yang, underline the fact that this title is no fluke.
India’s Wait Finally Ends
It had been a long wait since an Indian won a World Tour title outside India. Lakshya Sen’s Syed Modi International title in November 2024 came on home turf. Since then, while Indians have reached deep into tournaments, they hadn’t converted those runs into trophies until Ayush broke the trend in Fort Worth.
His triumph comes at a crucial time for Indian badminton, especially with the Paris Olympics behind us and the rebuild for the next cycle underway. With Lakshya, Priyanshu, and now Ayush, the future of Indian men’s singles looks well-stocked.
With this title, Ayush Shetty will gain crucial ranking points, confidence, and momentum. His next challenge will be to maintain consistency on the demanding World Tour circuit, which features week-after-week elite competition. But if the US Open run is any indication, Ayush has the temperament and tools to grow into a regular presence on the global stage.
Ayush Shetty, remember the name.
A young man with a mature game, and now, a BWF World Tour champion.
This US Open 2025 victory is not just a personal milestone it’s a statement.
The next Indian MS superstar may just have arrived.
