New Delhi, September 1: The Indian challenge in Shenzhen for the China Masters Super 750 has been truncated, with major shuttlers pulling out of the tournament to focus on the upcoming Asian Games.
One of the names on that list is Ayush Shetty, who, after a promising run at the BWF World Championships 2026, is busy once again.
Shetty, who has emerged as a major find for Indian badminton, has been grabbing headlines across the circuit. From his Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) final against Shi Yuqi to his rise in the BWF rankings and his subsequent revenge victory over the Chinese star, it has been one remarkable ride for the young Indian.
Interestingly, Shetty opted to sit out of the China Masters, a Super 750 event, as he shifts his focus towards the Asian Games. The decision may come as a surprise, particularly given the importance of match practice and maintaining momentum ahead of a major tournament. More often than not, a player missing a key event on the World Tour can raise concerns about a possible injury.
However, Shetty’s coach Sagar Chopda was quick to rule that out, making it clear that the decision was purely part of the team’s Asian Games preparation.
“There is nothing like that. He is completely fine. The decision was purely about preparing better for the Asian Games,” Chopda said.
Speaking exclusively to myKhel, Sagar Chopda highlighted Ayush Shetty’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Games and the decision behind skipping China Masters.
What Was The Rationale Behind Skipping China Masters?
Sagar Chopda explained the rationale behind Ayush Shetty’s decision to skip the China Masters Super 750, saying the team had to weigh the benefits of match practice against the player’s mindset following his World Championships campaign.
Chopda acknowledged that competing in Shenzhen would have given Shetty valuable match exposure, but felt the Indian needed time to regroup and focus on training ahead of the Asian Games.
“Definitely, playing the China tournament would have helped him get more match practice. But we also need to take into consideration the player’s mindset and what the player himself wants.”
The decision was also shaped by Shetty’s demanding schedule. At the Asian Games, he is expected to feature in both the team and individual events, potentially leaving him with little time to train before the European circuit begins.
“It was also important that he got a window to train. After the Asian Games, he will be playing both the team and individual events. Once they return, the European circuit starts, so there isn’t much of a window to train after that.”
Shetty was also disappointed with his World Championships performance, prompting the team to consider whether another tournament was the right move.
“Ayush himself wasn’t very happy with his World Championships performance. So there were mixed thoughts about whether to go ahead with China or withdraw.”
Ultimately, the team chose to prioritise preparation for the Asian Games, with the European circuit to follow.
Sagar Chopda Gives Sneak Peek Into Ayush’s Asian Games Preparations
Ayush Shetty has wasted little time getting back to work as he shifts his focus to the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. According to his coach Sagar Chopda, the Indian shuttler returned to his academy in Bengaluru almost immediately after his World Championships campaign in New Delhi and has since been undergoing regular training.
“He has been training regularly since the World Championships. We came back after his match and he returned to the academy in Bangalore almost immediately.”
Chopda said Coach Irwansyah has been overseeing Shetty’s sessions, with the focus now less on making major physical changes and more on sharpening his tactical game. “We don’t need to make any major changes. But tactically, we definitely need to be better prepared.”
He identified Shetty’s performance against Alvi at the World Championships as an area for improvement, particularly against opponents who rely on a faster, flatter game.
“If you look at his match against Christo Popov at the Thomas Cup, these are the kind of players Ayush has to get better against.”
The mental side of preparation is also being addressed, with Shetty working alongside a psychologist. Chopda added that the team is mindful of Japan’s slower playing conditions and will arrive early to allow the players to acclimatise.
“Ayush has already experienced long matches, including at the Asian Championships. He has also played some extremely high-quality matches recently, including against Shi Yuqi. So he knows what to expect. Now we just have to see how it goes.”
Ayush Shetty & BWF World Championships: What Does Coach Think?
Coach Sagar also shed some light on the early exit of Ayush Shetty from the BWF World Championships 2026, especially after the Indian shuttler had stormed his way in with an impressive win over Shi Yuqi. He admitted that after the match against Shi, the weight of expectation was, in particular, much more on his shoulders.
“Definitely, all of us would have loved Ayush to go further in the tournament. Especially after the way he played his first-round match against Shi Yuqi, it was a very good morale boost and a great start for him.”
Against Alwi Farhan, however, Shetty struggled to replicate that performance, with Chopda also crediting the Indonesian for his composure. The coach felt the Indian could have been sharper tactically.
“Apart from the first game, where Ayush had a 19-18 lead, Alvi controlled the match much better. We could have tackled it better tactically and planned a little better.”
Despite Shetty having beaten Alwi in their previous meeting in China, Chopda stressed that the better player on the day ultimately prevails. He pointed to Alex Lanier and Kodai’s comebacks at the championships as examples.