Ayush Shetty storms to US Open title, silences Brian Yang with blistering powerplay

In a 47-minute masterclass, the 6-foot-4 Indian took down Canada’s Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13, sealing his maiden BWF Super 300 crown and vaulting to No. 2 in India’s men’s singles rankings. With an electrifying game built on precision and power, Shetty not only shut out the top-seeded Yang, but raised fresh hopes of India’s resurgence in the men’s singles circuit.

The final point — a full-blooded crosscourt smash that scorched across the diagonal of the Council Bluffs court — summed up Shetty’s swagger and sting. And while Iowa may be a distant outpost in the badminton world, this victory means everything to the 20-year-old who had narrowly missed the title at Taiwan last year.

Shetty’s win was forged in relentless attack. He fought past four tricky opponents en route to the final and reserved his most ruthless performance for the summit clash. Yang, known for his jump smashes and high-tempo rallies, was rendered ineffective against Shetty’s superior shot judgment, reach, and control at the net.

The Canadian tried to outmaneuver him with deep lifts and clears, but Shetty’s long-levered frame tracked them with ease. His backcourt retrievals, often ending in bullet returns, consistently pushed Yang into errors. At one point, a mid-rally knee gash forced a medical timeout — but even taped and bruised, Shetty stayed composed and in command.

With the first game hanging at 16-all, Shetty uncorked a thunderous crosscourt winner to reclaim control, then closed the opener 21-18 after drawing Yang into a desperate net exchange. The second game saw Shetty sprint to an 11-6 lead, cleverly mixing short overheads and deceptive body shots. Though Yang momentarily narrowed the gap with a few winners to Shetty’s backhand, the Indian quickly stamped out any hopes of a comeback.

Despite his knee taking a second hit, Shetty never dropped intensity. His movement, an odd but effective reverse duck walk, allowed him to track shuttles with deadly accuracy — culminating in a flurry of winners that left Yang scrambling.

As Shetty walked off the court — bloodied but unbeaten — he carried with him not just the trophy and $18,000 cheque (hastily scrawled in marker), but a declaration: India has a new powerhouse in men’s singles, and his name is Ayush Shetty.