New Delhi, August 20, 2026: India’s Ayush Shetty’s impressive run at the BWF World Championships came to an end after he suffered a 21-19, 21-11 defeat to Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan in the pre-quarterfinals on Thursday.
The 21-year-old Indian had entered the spotlight after stunning world No. 1 and reigning champion Shi Yuqi in the opening round. However, Shetty could not overcome Farhan in a 45-minute contest at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Reflecting on the defeat, Shetty admitted that he was not at his sharpest and felt Farhan played the better match. The Indian said he had opportunities in the opening game but failed to convert them, while Farhan grew in confidence in the second.
Farhan, who now leads their head-to-head record 5-3, repeatedly targeted Shetty’s body and applied pressure around the net. Shetty acknowledged his opponent’s speed, patience and variation, while also pointing to his own unforced errors.
Despite the setback, Shetty said there was plenty to learn from the match. The runner-up at the 2026 Asia Championships will now turn his attention to the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which begin on September 19.
“We were preparing for both Worlds and Asiad,” Shetty said, adding that he would make tactical adjustments and focus on the lessons from the World Championships.
