India’s badminton fans finally have a reason to cheer in 2025. Ayush Shetty, a rising star from Karnataka, gave India its first badminton title of the year by winning the prestigious US Open on Sunday. The 20-year-old defeated Canada’s Brian Yang in an intense three-game battle, marking his first-ever BWF World Tour title. The final took place in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Shetty walked away with a well-earned prize of $24,000.
This victory means a lot not just for Shetty, but also for Indian badminton. Before this, even top names like PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Lakshya Sen had struggled to lift a title this year. Former world No.1 Kidambi Srikanth came close, reaching the Malaysia Masters final in May, but couldn’t go all the way. Shetty’s win has finally broken the dry spell.
The final itself was a thrilling match. Brian Yang, ranked world No.20, was in great form and didn’t make it easy. Shetty lost the first game 18-21 but came back strong. He fought hard to take the next two games 21-13 and 23-21. It was in the third game that Shetty showed his hunger for victory. He had earlier saved a match point and then turned the momentum in his favor.
Shetty, who comes from Udupi in Karnataka, trains at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru under coaches Sagar Chopda and U Vimal Kumar. He has been making steady progress in the senior circuit. In 2023, he finished runner-up at both the Bahrain International and the Odisha Masters. In 2024, he was the runner-up at the Dutch Open. His journey shows how hard work and patience can bring great results.
At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Shetty is known for his powerful smashes. His height gives him an edge over many players. But it’s not just about attack. His defence has also improved a lot in the last three months. His coach Vimal Kumar says Shetty has been working hard on his weaknesses and has turned them into strengths.
“Shetty has shown solid improvement,” said Vimal. “He is playing much better now and has the potential to win more titles. I am very happy for him.”
This is not the first time Shetty has made headlines in the USA. In 2023, he won the bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Championships held there. That performance helped build his confidence and encouraged him to do even better at the senior level.
After moving up to senior-level competitions, Shetty took part in several international events and even reached the semi-finals in some of them. Last year, he reached the final of the Dutch Open but couldn’t win the title. However, that experience helped him grow and prepare better for big matches like this one.
His journey has been all about learning, improving, and staying determined. With this US Open win, Shetty has announced himself as one of India’s brightest badminton prospects. He still has five more matches in the ongoing Canada Open, and his fans are excited to see how far he goes.
While Shetty was shining in the men’s section, young Tanvi Sharma reached the finals in the women’s singles but lost to world No.66 Beiwen Zhang. Still, her performance was impressive and shows that India’s young players are stepping up on the global stage.
With this title win, Ayush Shetty has not only brought home a trophy but also inspired many young players across the country. His journey proves that talent, combined with effort and the right training, can take you to the top.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)