Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 6 -- India's Ayush Shetty made a strong start to the 2026 season by defeating Paris Olympic medallist Lee Zii Jia in the first round of the Malaysia Open.
Ayush defeated the experienced shuttler 21-12, 21-17 in just 39 minutes in the Super 1000 event being played at the Stadium Axiata Arena here.
The Karkala native, who had a stellar year in 2025, looked calm and composed while playing his naturally aggressive game against Lee.
The 20 year old won the US Open in June last year and finished the season with a quarter-final finish at the Australian Open, results that have significantly boosted his confidence on the tour.
Playing in front of his home crowd, Lee struggled to match the intensity and pace set by the Indian s...