Ayush Shetty plays a shot against Lakshya Sen during a Badminton Match at Yonex Sunrise India Open 2026, at IGI Stadium on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. (Express Photo | Abhinav Saha)

Brian Yang, like Ayush Shetty, was handpicked by now retired Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, to spar with at Dubai. It was a recognition of his deceptive game and tactical nous. But for Ayush, four years Yang’s junior, the Canadian had precipitated his biggest career funk earlier in March at Swiss Open.

After 4 wins,Yang had pulled one back at Basel, winning 21-18, 21-19. It led to incredible fury followed by Ayush’s brooding silence – he didn’t smash a racquet, he cleanly snapped it into two with brute force. The reason – he had been leading 10-5 and 12-6 but gone on to lose.…