Ayush Shetty’s Junior-To-Senior Transition In Spotlight At Maiden India Open

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 17:16 IST

Ayush Shetty faces Lakshya Sen in the India Open first round in New Delhi, aiming for his first victory over the 'home favourite'.

Ayush Shetty beat Lee Zii Jia in the opening round of Malaysia Open (Picture credit: Badminton Photo)

Star Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty is all set to take on, as he says, the ‘home favourite’ Lakshya Sen in the opening round of the India Open, starting January 13 in New Delhi. On tour, the duo have faced each other twice and on both occasions, Lakshya has emerged victorious.

This would be the first time that Ayush takes part in the India Open, the Super 750 tournament, as he slowly makes a place for himself in the senior circuit. A bronze medallist at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships, Ayush’s rise has been steady and he is currently one of the youngsters to watch out for.

The 20-year-old’s biggest breakthrough on the senior circuit came when he won the US Open in June, with a massive win against Chou Tien Chen in the semifinals. Since then, he has finished quarterfinalist at the Hong Kong Open in September, at the Hylo Open in October and at the Australian Open in November.

“The transition from juniors to seniors was definitely tough. You are suddenly playing alongside so many top-quality players and the biggest challenge is staying consistent. But over the years, I have done a pretty good job, managed to break into the top 20 and now I am competing with the very best," Ayush replied to a query from News18 Sports.

“That makes it even tougher, but also more rewarding," Ayush added.

The youngster admits that playing against Lakshya, who trains in the same academy as him, is a disappointment, given that the home support would get divided.

“Having to play Lakshya at the India Open is a bit unfortunate; you don’t want home fans to see Indian players face off in the first round. But I see it as a challenge. Lakshya is obviously one of the best in the world," Ayush said.

“We had some great matches last year, even though I lost both and I am hoping we can put on another good contest at the India Open, this time with me on the winning side," Ayush added. 

News sports badminton Ayush Shetty’s Junior-To-Senior Transition In Spotlight At Maiden India Open

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