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New Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Ayush Shetty beat pressure all by himself at US Open: Mom
UDUPI: When Ayush Shetty clinched a noteworthy victory at the US Open Super 300 event, there was quiet pride and deep satisfaction in his home in Sanoor, Karkala, in Udupi district. His father, Ramprakash Shetty, a businessman, marked his son's achievement with a temple visit in Kerala, while his mother Shalmili and younger sister Aadhya celebrated with heartfelt joy at home. They recalled the sacrifices and relentless discipline that shaped Ayush's journey. Ayush began playing badminton at the age of eight, following his father's game in their backyard. In 2013, at just eight years old, he entered his first tournament- a district-level competition in Udupi. Ayush won the title despite never having received formal coaching till then. His mother speaking to TNIE on Tuesday recalled how quickly the journey of Ayush picked up pace. 'By 2016, he had topped the state rankings in the under 13 and 15 categories,' she said. His initial training began at John's Academy in Karkala, then at Badminton Mangaluru on alternate days. 'Even when he lost matches, he never let it break him. He would take the pressure, process it quietly and bounce back stronger. That is his strength- his inner drive to keep growing' she added. As Ayush continued winning at state-ranking events, the family decided to move to Bengaluru for better exposure. In Bengaluru, Ayush trained under Mohith Kamath at Badyzone, then with Krishna Kumar at iSports for four years. After Class 10, he joined the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, where he has been training for five years now under top coaches Vimal Kumar and Sagar Chopda. A former student of Prakruti National School, Sanoor, Karkala, Ayush excelled in studies too. Though he began a in Sports Science at Reva University, he later took up a job with Kolkata Railways as a catering inspector and is now pursuing from the University of Mysore through distance education. 'Ayush has always been calm, focused and determined' said Shalmili.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Sleepless nights and silent cheers, Ayush Shetty's mom says it's the best moment of her life
1 2 Udupi: As Ayush Shetty lifted his maiden senior title at the US Open Super 300 Tournament, the moment was celebrated quietly- but emotionally - at his home in Sanoor, Karkala. While Ramprakash Shetty, a businessman, marked his son Ayush's historic win with a temple visit in Kerala, Shalmili Shetty, his mother, and Ayush's younger sister, Aadhya, celebrated the moment in quiet joy, cherishing the reward of years of dedication. Shalmili, a homemaker, spent sleepless nights for over a week. "We get too nervous, so we do not watch his matches live. After winning the title, when Ayush called at around 3am on Monday and simply said, 'I won,' we just screamed with joy and thanked God. It is the best moment of our lives so far," she recalled, her voice still brimming with relief. Shalmili told TOI: "He started playing badminton when he was just eight, inspired by his father, who used to play in the backyard. But when he won his very first district-level tournament in Udupi, without any formal coaching, we knew he had something special. My husband then took him to a few more local tournaments in Mangaluru, and he began winning consistently." His formal training began at John's Academy in Karkala, followed by coaching at Badminton Mangaluru every alternate day. As his game progressed, he began competing in state-ranking tournaments and became Karnataka's No. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo 1 player in his age group within three years. By the time he was in Class 5, many advised the family to shift to a bigger city for better training. "So Ayush, his sister, and I moved to Bengaluru," Shalmili said. He first trained under Mohith Kamath at Badyzone and later under Krishna Kumar at iSports for four years. When he completed Class 10, the family decided to enrol him at Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA), where he has now been training for five years under top coaches Vimal Kumar and Sagar Chopda. Ayush completed his Class 10 from Prakruti National School, Sanoor, and PU from Reva College, Bengaluru. He is currently pursuing a BCom degree via distance education from the University of Mysore. "It has been a tough road, especially coming from a village. But Ayush is incredibly hardworking and always dreams big. He listens to his coaches and never misses a session," she said. In the junior category, Ayush won bronze at the World Junior Championships. But transitioning to the senior level brought fresh challenges. At the Chinese Taipei Open, he reached the semifinals but lost to Chou Tien Chen. "That made this US Open win even sweeter because this time, he defeated him," she said. Ayush also excelled in academics and was a class topper until Class 9. "At one point, we were not sure whether to focus on studies or sports. It was Ayush who said, 'Let me prove that choosing badminton was the right decision,'" she said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
