By Prarthana Hazarika
Guwahati, Aug 12: For a player making his senior BWF World Championships debut, drawing the World No. 1 in the opening round would normally be viewed as the toughest possible assignment. But former international shuttler Ajit Wijetilekk believes the sheer scale of the challenge could work in Ayush Shetty’s favour.
According to Wijetilekk, Shetty enters his first World Championships with one significant advantage — he has virtually nothing to lose.
“He is pitted against the best player and is playing in his first senior Worlds. He has nothing to lose,” Wijetilekk said.
The Indian youngster will also have the home conditions and crowd behind him, factors that Wijetilekk feels could be particularly important for a young player stepping onto one of badminton’s biggest stages.
The size and characteristics of the IG Stadium court could also favour Shetty if he adapts quickly to the conditions.
“He may be better adapted to the court and the draft, which enables him to play with better control,” Wijetilekk explained.
But perhaps Shetty’s biggest advantage is that Shi Yuqi is no longer an unknown quantity.
The two have already faced each other, with Shetty pushing the Chinese star hard. That experience, Wijetilekk believes, removes the element of surprise and should prevent the young Indian from being overawed by Shi’s status as the world’s top player.
“Shetty has already played and extended Shi, so there are no surprises and he should not be overawed by the World No. 1 status. He and his team can plan well too,” he said.
The battle starts at the net
For Wijetilekk, the match could ultimately be decided by who takes control of the front court.
“The key will be who controls the net and gets the openings for attack,” he said.
Shetty cannot afford to allow Shi to settle into his familiar rhythm. The Indian will have to begin aggressively, inject pace and constantly make the defending champion uncomfortable.
“Start aggressive and don’t let Shi settle down and get his control and rhythm,” Wijetilekk stressed.
Winning the opening game, he feels, could be enormous for Shetty. Once that happens, the Indian can afford to take greater attacking risks in the second game.
But aggression cannot mean reckless badminton.
Wijetilekk wants Shetty to adopt a measured attack, particularly targeting the flanks, while being ready to follow up at the net and finish points when the opportunity presents itself.
Good length will be equally important.
Shetty cannot give Shi the kind of loose or short returns that allow the Chinese star to unleash his trademark sharp, downward strokes.
“Good length, not allowing Shi to play his sharp downward game,” Wijetilekk said, identifying it as one of the crucial elements of the Indian’s game plan.
Don’t let the World No. 1 dictate
Shi’s greatest strengths are not simply his attacking strokes but his ability to control rallies through positioning, patience and precision.
Wijetilekk describes him as “the finest positional and controlled player” with dangerous downward strokes. That makes passivity particularly dangerous for Shetty.
The Indian will therefore have to recognise when to accelerate the pace, when to attack and when to change the pattern of the rally.
“Tactical discipline throughout” will be critical, Wijetilekk said, while stressing that Shetty must also be prepared to take risks when required.
Recent improvement in Shetty’s defence could provide another weapon. By making Shi work harder for his points and mixing the pace between rallies, the Indian can attempt to prevent the Chinese star from establishing the rhythm he prefers.
And there is another intriguing element to this first-round meeting.
Playing the World No. 1 in the opening round may actually be the best time to face him.
Before either player has completely settled into the conditions, rhythm and atmosphere of the tournament, Shetty has an opportunity to attack the match rather than simply survive it.
For the young Indian, the equation is therefore surprisingly simple: control the net, attack with discipline, maintain length, take calculated risks — and above all, refuse to become passive.
The World No. 1 may have the ranking, experience and reputation. But Shetty has the freedom of a player with nothing to lose.
And in a first-round World Championships knockout, that can be a dangerous combination.
