I would like to set my own benchmark: Ayush Shetty
Indian badminton player Ayush Shetty discusses his preparation for his World Championship debut in New Delhi. He expresses confidence in his ability to compete against top-ranked players like Shi Yu Qi.
Why it matters
As a rising star in Indian sports, Shetty's performance at the World Championships is a focal point for national sporting expectations.
He used to let his badminton do the talking. Laid-back by nature, Ayush Shetty rarely showed too much emotion on court. These days, there is more fire and aggression, something he says gives him energy.
He will need every bit of it at the World championships in New Delhi, which gets underway at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on August 17 (Monday). Ayush, on tournament debut, will face Shi Yu Qi, the World No. 1, with the weight of a home crowd and the expectations that come with being India’s next big hope in men’s singles.
But the 21-year-old isn’t walking into the Worlds burdened by what came before him. He is walking in believing he has finally learnt to match the pace of the best. Now he wants to test that belief on the biggest stage. Excerpts from an online interaction:
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