Ayush Shetty Clinches US Open Title, Ending India's BWF Drought; Tanvi Sharma Secures Runner-Up Finish

Shetty Secures Maiden BWF World Tour Title at US Open; Sharma Claims Runner-Up

Ayush Shetty emerged victorious at the US Open Super 300, clinching his first BWF World Tour title. This win breaks India's title drought on the BWF circuit in 2025.

The composed 20-year-old defeated Canadian Brian Yang, ranked higher than him, in straight games 21-18, 21-13. The match lasted 47 minutes. This triumph followed Shetty's impressive comeback against top seed Chou Tien Chen the previous day.

However, Tanvi Sharma's impressive run concluded with a second-place finish. The young player lost to top-seeded Beiwen Zhang in a three-game match with the score 11-21, 21-16, 10-21. The match lasted 46 minutes. The 16-year-old, who entered the tournament unseeded, showed signs of fatigue after a demanding week, ultimately losing the final after forcing a decisive third game. Despite the loss, her performance highlighted her significant potential for the future of Indian badminton.

The men's singles final began evenly until 6-6. Shetty then took the lead, capitalizing on Yang's overhit shot and extending it to 9-6. Shetty entered the interval with an 11-6 lead, winning five consecutive points.

Yang narrowed the gap to 13-11, and the match became increasingly tense with multiple errors. Yang, the third seed, leveled the score at 16-16, marking a critical point for Shetty. However, he secured the next few crucial points with precise shots.

With only a point separating the players, Shetty reached game point with a powerful jump smash winner and maintained his composure to win.

The second game saw Shetty maintain a consistent lead. He quickly gained a 7-2 advantage, but Yang closed the gap to 6-7. Shetty then regained control, taking a five-point lead into the interval.

Shetty's varied shots, strong defense, and smart shot selection allowed him to maintain his lead at 17-12, preventing Yang from establishing any attacking rhythm. Shetty earned seven championship points with a skillful cross-court punch and sealed the victory with a stylish smash winner.

Despite a subdued celebration, this World Tour title marks a significant milestone for one of India's most consistent men's singles players this year.

Following the men's final, Sharma started aggressively in the women's singles final. However, against a more experienced opponent, experience prevailed. In her first World Tour final, she took time to settle, allowing Zhang to take an 11-5 lead into the interval.

Sharma showed improvement upon resumption, narrowing the gap to 12-8 with impressive strokes, particularly on cross-court shots. However, Zhang, at 34, maintained momentum, leading to Sharma's first game loss of the week.

The teenager showed resilience in the second game, taking a 4-0 lead and capitalizing on errors. She extended her lead from 6-2 to 9-4. A 31-shot rally, won by Zhang, pushed Sharma into a corner.

Sharma maintained a slender two-point lead at the interval, 11-9. Zhang leveled the score at 11-11 and edged ahead as Sharma overhit her shots. The Indian then took a two-point lead with delicate shots near the net. Despite a lucky net cord for Zhang at 18-15, Sharma remained focused, securing game points and forcing Zhang to stretch and hit wide.

Strategic shot-making, placement, and persistence in rallies were crucial in forcing a decider.

However, Zhang regained the advantage at the start of the deciding game. The teenager's physicality and body language declined after errors, and the effects of a demanding week became apparent. Zhang accurately targeted the lines, entering the interval with a significant 11-4 lead.

Sharma's movement visibly faded as the gap widened to 16-6, and Zhang soon clinched the victory. Despite the loss, Sharma can take several positives from this week, which will help her refine her game.