Ayush Shetty Stuns World No.13 Lee Chia Hao, Sets Up All-Indian Clash with Srikanth at Taipei Open 2025
The Yonex Taipei Open 2025 has already delivered a headline moment for Indian badminton fans, as 19-year-old Ayush Shetty produced the upset of the tournament by knocking out home favorite and World No.13 Lee Chia Hao in the first round.
In straight games, Shetty dominated with maturity beyond his years, winning 21-17, 21-18 to book a Round of 16 berth.
Lee, the All England Open 2024 finalist, was one of the top seeds and a title contender coming into the tournament. But Shetty, known for his relentless work ethic and counter-attacking play, never let the pressure show.
The Indian held his nerve in crucial phases of both games, defending aggressively and converting opportunities with precision at the net.
This win marks the biggest of Shetty’s young career and is a sign that India’s bench strength in men’s singles continues to grow. He now faces an even sterner test in the Round of 16: a clash against compatriot and former World No.1 Kidambi Srikanth.
With both players from India, one spot in the quarterfinals is already confirmed for the nation — a welcome assurance as Indian shuttlers continue to chase deep tournament runs in the post-Olympic season.
Srikanth Shows His Class
Srikanth, who had a sluggish 2024, looked composed in his opening-round match against S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian. He sealed a 21-16, 21-15 win, showing signs of form and fitness that could take him deeper into the tournament.
Against Ayush Shetty, Srikanth’s experience will be vital, while Shetty’s speed and hunger could make for a thrilling contest between generations.
India’s R16 Contingent: Four Still Standing
Besides Srikanth and Shetty, India has two more representatives in the Round of 16:
- Unnati Hooda, who won an all-Indian first-round clash against Anupama Upadhyaya 21-13, 21-17, will face Taiwan’s Lin Sih Yun next. Hooda has been in consistent form this year and will be looking to make her second quarterfinal appearance of the season.
- Tharun Mannepalli, another rising name in Indian men’s singles, survived a gruelling 70-minute battle against Japan’s Shogo Ogawa. Tharun won 21-17, 19-21, 21-12 — a display of stamina and resilience that bodes well ahead of his Round of 16 match against Indonesia’s Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah.
With two clashes involving foreign opponents and one all-Indian showdown, India has a realistic shot at placing three players into the quarterfinals of this BWF Super 300 event.
Early Exits for Others
Not all results went India’s way. Promising women’s singles player Anmol Kharb lost her R32 tie against Thailand’s Thamonwan Nithiittikrai 17-21, 12-21. It was a learning experience for the teenager, who is still adapting to senior-level play.
Meanwhile, Aakarshi Kashyap couldn’t find her rhythm in her opening match, falling to Huang Yi Ting 9-21, 12-21. The defeat underlines the challenges faced by Indian women’s singles players on the BWF circuit, where consistency remains elusive.
Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, another exciting prospect from Manipur, was also ousted in the opening round by Canada’s Brian Yang. The 21-12, 23-21 scoreline showed that Meiraba fought back well in the second game but couldn’t convert crucial points.
A Promising Path Ahead
Despite a few early exits, India’s performance so far at the Taipei Open 2025 has been promising, particularly in men’s singles where competition is fierce and upcoming names like Shetty and Tharun are stepping up.
The clash between Srikanth and Shetty is not just a match — it’s a reflection of Indian badminton’s generational transition.
While Srikanth represents the golden period of 2017–2018, Shetty is among those trying to define the next era. Thursday’s encounter will be more than just about reaching the quarters — it’s symbolic of Indian badminton’s evolution.
Fans will also be closely watching Unnati Hooda, who continues to grow in stature with each tournament. A win over Lin Sih Yun could see her take a major step toward joining the elite group of Indian women’s singles players.
What’s Next?
Round of 16 action continues today with all four Indian matches set to take place. Timings in IST (tentative):
- Unnati Hooda vs Lin Sih Yun – 11:10 AM (Court 2)
- Tharun Mannepalli vs Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah – 12:50 PM (Court 4)
- Kidambi Srikanth vs Ayush Shetty – 1:50 PM (Court 4)
With momentum on their side and a guaranteed quarterfinal spot, Indian shuttlers have a real opportunity to make a mark in Taipei.
