Badminton WC: I was not really sharp today; focus now on Asian Games, says Ayush Shetty after loss

New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Ayush Shetty’s impressive campaign in the BWF World Championships ended in a pre-quarterfinal defeat to old foe Alwi Farhan as the Indian shuttler lost the round of 16 match 21–19, 21–11 on Thursday.

Shetty, who had stunned World No.1 and reigning champion Shi Yuqi in his first-round encounter, could not get over the Indonesian shuttler despite having had his moments in the 45-minute rubber here.

Shetty spoke on the defeat, attributing it to him not being “sharp” in the match and that his opponent was a “better player today”. “I think I had my chance in the first game. I came back well. But yeah, again, I couldn’t convert it,” Shetty told reporters at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. While he was well and truly in the match in the first game, Shetty didn’t have much joy in the second one.

“And in the second game, I think he was playing with more confidence. He had his shots really sharp. And also, I think when I had my chances, I was not getting the lines. That made the difference. But overall, I think he was a better player today. He played with much more patience, and he was controlling the match really well,” Shetty, who was runner-up in the Asia Championships 2026, said.

Farhan also used the body line tactic against the 21-year-old Indian, constantly outfoxing him and giving him not much space and time to work through. On being asked whether he was not prepared for such an attack, Shetty said, “No, I don’t think that. We were prepared”, before adding, “But it’s just that the momentum of the game. I think definitely in the second game, he was just playing with more confidence. I was a bit, you know, not really sharp today. I think, yeah, I think he definitely was putting more pressure near the net.”

Farhan now holds a 5-3 head-to-head record against Shetty, including a win in the Junior World Championships in 2023, when he defeated the rising Indian shuttler in the semifinal. The Indonesian won the gold, while Shetty settled with a silver. Speaking on his rivalry with Farhan, the Indian shuttler said, “I think definitely he’s a really tough opponent to play against. He’s really quick. As I said, he was putting a lot of pressure from the net, not allowing me to, you know, play the net really well. I think I made some unforced errors also. Yeah, he was really sharp. He is really sharp and is always. He has a lot of variation from the back and maybe one of the best variations right now in men’s singles. Yeah, I think that’s what makes him really good,” he added.

There were two crucial tournaments in sight for the young Indian. Apart from the BWF Worlds, which New Delhi hosted 17 years after the Indian city of Hyderabad played host to it. Shetty now shifts his focus to the upcoming Asian Games, which will be played in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 onwards.

“We were preparing for both (Worlds and Asiad). I think we are prepared. A bit of, you know, tactical changes to be done; a lot to learn from this match, definitely. Yeah, I think just forget about this match for now, you know, and focus on the Asian Games,” he concluded.

–IANS

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