By Rohit - Jun 29, 2025 05:58 PM
Ayush Shetty Stuns World No.6 in US Open Thriller 39-Shot Rally Ignites Iowa Crowd
Ayush Shetty, India’s towering 20-year-old badminton star, lit up the sleepy town of Council Bluffs, Iowa, with a performance brimming with grit, athleticism, and sheer heart. Facing off against World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen in the US Open Super 300 semi-final, Shetty clawed back from the brink to win 20-22, 21-15, 21-14 and seal a spot in the final.
But the real story wasn’t just the scoreline. It was the epic 39-shot rally at 4-3 in the deciding set, a point that will be etched in memory — not just for Shetty, but for every fan in that small stadium in Iowa.
The moment came in the decider, early at 4-3, when Shetty — all of 6’4” and playing against the dogged Chou Tien Chen — found himself in a rally that spanned slides, dives, knee-scrapes, and reflex pickups.
There were eight floor-scraping pickups between the two men, fast-paced exchanges at the net, and flat drives that forced both to scramble. At one point, both players were on all fours, bouncing off the hardwood before regaining balance and continuing the rally. Commentators could barely contain their disbelief: “Still going,” was all they could say.
It ended with Shetty levelling 4-4, but symbolically, it was where he matched the Taiwanese legend in heart, and perhaps even broke his will. From that point, the Indian barely looked back.
Interestingly, Shetty had botched a golden opportunity in the opening game. Leading 19-15, he surrendered a 6-point lead to lose 20-22, something that could've mentally shattered many young shuttlers.
But Shetty is built differently. Under the guidance of coach Sagar Chopda, he regrouped.
"Ayush kept his composure after losing that 6-point lead and the set. He's been pulling off tricky wins all week," said Chopda.
And he wasn’t exaggerating. Earlier in the tournament, Shetty defeated:
Shetty’s entire campaign has been a test of resolve — and he’s passed every time.
Ranked World No. 34, Shetty still has a lot to learn, say his coaches. He has a tendency to rush through points and needs to work on game management, like taking strategic pauses.
But what he lacks in polish, he makes up for with explosive athleticism, a sharp down-the-line game, and most importantly, an evolving calm under pressure.
Awaiting Shetty in the final is Canada’s Bryan Yang, a hyper-athletic player who loves to play at tempo and fire off smashes in quick succession.
Shetty leads Yang 2-0 in head-to-head, including a win at the Taipei Open semis earlier this year. Ironically, it was Chou Tien Chen who beat Shetty in that Taipei final — making the US Open semi-final win a symbolic revenge.
Yang's game is volume-based. He sends down a barrage of smashes — not necessarily precise, but overwhelming in sheer numbers. His body smashes, especially from the overhead cross, could prove tricky.
Coach Chopda added: “Ayush just needs to stay patient. Yang’s pace can be frantic, but if he sticks to his plan like in Taipei, he’ll be fine.”
With Tanvi Sharma also reaching the women’s singles final (at just 16 years old), Indian badminton is quietly making a mark at this American outpost.
Ayush Shetty's run, especially after that heart-stopping 39-shot rally, has already made this a breakout moment. A win in the final would only be icing on the cake.
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