Ayush Shetty withdraws from Hylo Open 2026 after retiring hurt in Paris

Ayush Shetty has pulled out of the tournament in Germany. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Ayush Shetty has withdrawn from the Hylo Open 2026, a BWF Super 500 tournament, after retiring hurt at the French Open in Paris last week.

Shetty had beaten compatriot Kidambi Srikanth in the opening round in Paris. He then retired against Japan’s Kodai Naraoka while trailing 17-21, 6-11, and his pullout from the Hylo Open comes in the aftermath of that injury.

The withdrawals leave Lakshya Sen as the main name in India’s men’s singles line-up. He will be joined by H. S. Prannoy, a World Championships bronze medallist, along with Kiran George and Tharun Mannepalli.

Shetty’s 2026 began with an injury-affected start to the season, but the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo in April changed its course. He beat Li Shifeng, Jonatan Christie and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn on his way to the final, where he lost to Shi Yuqi. The silver made him the first Indian man in 61 years to reach the men’s singles final at the continental event. He rose to a career-high world ranking of 18 that month.

In July, he beat Alwi Farhan in three games at the China Open before losing a closely contested decider to Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen in the Round of 16. At the World Championships in New Delhi in August, he stunned defending champion and then world No. 1 Shi Yuqi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 on his debut at the event. His campaign ended in the Round of 16, where he lost to Farhan in straight games.