New Delhi: “I will beat Shi Yu Qi on August 17. Ayush Shetty had written this sentence on a piece of paper and every morning for the last 10 days, he would wake up and read the note. It was his way of showing his determination and belief.
But having the idea of beating a world champion on a note and executing a terrific game plan on court against a formidable opponent are two very different things. Beating the defending champion and top seed on the world’s biggest stage at home requires courage, skill and last but not least, a calm demeanour.
Shi saved four. Eventually, Shetty secured the winner with a gentle push to the back. “It’s a great feeling. It’s special. “I knew it would be a tough match and I would have to work hard against the top seed. But I was mentally and physically prepared. “I was getting a bit nervous towards the finish. He was catching up, got the momentum. Everything I did, he somehow managed to return. “Were you in search of my prototype? All those stints shaped Shetty’s mental resilience and the fruits of that were visible when he played an important part in helping India win a bronze medal at the Thomas Cup. The performances were starting to add up, now tinged with consistency. It was as if he was preparing himself to deliver on the big stage. Shi admitted that Shetty’s fast, attacking game surprised him. From the start, Shetty was the one taking the risks, going for the kill at every opportunity. He kept the rallies to a minimum, looked for scoring chances, and capitalised on the better side of the court, scoring quickly with the drift backing his strokes. “The support and energy from the crowd boosted me. The way they were standing and cheering, it made me so happy.
Through the thrilling 73-minute contest, the 21-year-old Shetty showed brilliant control until his nerves surfaced on the home stretch, when he held five match points in his pocket at 20-15. The raucous crowd fell silent as the 30-year-old Chinese star sensed his young rival’s nervousness and tried to close the gap. Shi had a 3-0 head-to-head record against Shetty, but the Indian had pushed him close twice.
I am super happy with the way I played,” said Shetty. I told myself to be aggressive but calm,” he said. I have to focus on the next game,” said Shetty.
Axelsen called to ask mentor U Vimal Kumar, after Shetty was sent to Dubai last year to train with the legend.
