New Delhi, April 11: As Ayush Shetty stood one step away from ending India’s 61-year wait for a men’s singles title at the Badminton Asia Championships, former champion Dinesh Khanna couldn’t help but see a familiar script unfolding.
Khanna’s own triumph in 1965 remains India’s lone success in the event, achieved against the odds as an unseeded player who wasn’t expected to go deep into the draw. Six decades on, he finds striking similarities in Ayush’s run.
“I must say that there seems to be quite a bit of similarity. In the sense, I was unseeded and I went all the way. So in case of Shetty also, his ranking is fairly low as far as international ranking is concerned. He is unseeded,” Khanna told PTI on Saturday after Ayush stormed into the final of the prestigious tournament in Ningbo, China.
“And of course, a lot of hopes were earlier there on Lakshya Sen. Unfortunately, he lost in the first round itself…so I must say that there seems to be a lot of similarities between what happened with me in 1965. And as far as he is concerned, you know, being unseeded, being unheralded and reaching the finals.” Back in 1965, Khanna, fresh out of engineering college, had entered the tournament as India’s fourth-ranked player, firmly in the shadow of established names like Suresh Goel, much like Ayush began this campaign with the spotlight largely on Lakshya.
His preparation had been limited, coming on the back of a knee surgery and a short training stint, yet he found momentum through the rounds, relying on resilience and match temperament to outlast opponents.
“I had undergone an open knee surgery in 1963. I had broken my cartilage. I was asked to do first rehab, build up strength in my legs, before I can get on to the court. I was in the shadow of Nandu Natekar and Suresh Goyal… So then for the Asian Championship, we had two selection tournaments. I lost in the semifinals, but I was happy that at least my knee was functioning well,” he laughed, recalling that time.
“I got selected as number four player for India.” Khanna’s run gathered pace with a physically draining quarterfinal before he overcame Goel in the semifinals, overturning the expected script. He would go on to face a Thai opponent Sangob Rattanusorn in the final — another point of resonance with Ayush, who had to overcome top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals to keep his title hopes alive. Where Khanna relied on stubborn defence, Ayush has leaned on relentless attack.
India has waited six decades. The only man who has done it remembers how unlikely it once felt. And now, watching Ayush, he sees the same improbable script unfolding again. (PTI)
