Udupi: A wave of joy swept through Sanoor, Karkala, in Udupi district, as Ayush Shetty clinched the US Open Super 300 badminton title, making his family and hometown beam with pride. While his father Ramprakash Shetty, a businessman, marked the moment with a thanksgiving visit to a temple in Kerala, his mother Shalmili and sister Aadhya celebrated the victory with quiet emotion at home. Ayush’s success is the result of years of discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice. He first picked up the racquet at the age of eight, inspired by playing with his father in their backyard. Despite no formal coaching, Ayush won his first district-level tournament in Udupi in 2013. By 2016, he had already dominated state rankings in U13 and U15 categories. His early training began at John’s Academy, Karkala, and Badminton Mangaluru. Even after defeats, his mother recalls, Ayush would absorb the loss quietly and return more determined, reflecting his calm nature and inner resilience. Recognising his growing potential, the family relocated to Bengaluru for better training. He trained under Mohith Kamath at Badyzone, followed by Krishna Kumar at iSports. His breakthrough came after joining the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, where he’s trained under Vimal Kumar and Sagar Chopda for the past five years. Academically inclined as well, Ayush initially pursued Sports Science at Reva University, took up a job with Kolkata Railways, and now continues a B.Com through distance learning from the University of Mysore. His mother sums it best: “Ayush has always been calm, focused, and determined.”