"Vivo Kulawut" was upset by an Indian rising star, missing out on the final of the 2026 Asian Badminton Championships and ending his bid to defend the Asian title.
On 11 April 2026, the major continental badminton event, the "Badminton Asia Championships 2026," offering a total prize pool of 550,000 US dollars, was held in Ningbo, China. The semifinals took place on Friday, 11 April 2026.
In the men's singles category, "Vivo" Kulawut Wititsant, Thailand's beloved badminton player, world No. 1 and reigning champion, faced Ayut Shetty, ranked 25th globally from India, who was the dark horse advancing to this stage.
"Vivo" Kulawut Wititsant narrowly lost to Ayut Shetty 1-2 games (21-10, 19-21, 17-21) after more than an hour of play.
"Vivo" Kulawut started strongly, clearly controlling the pace and easily taking the first game 21-10.
In the second game, the young Indian adjusted well, using his freshness and resilience to create a closely contested match. Toward the end, Ayut stayed composed and edged out a 21-19 win, leveling the match 1-1.
In the deciding game, both fought fiercely until the final stages, but Ayut Shetty played with more confidence and decisiveness, ultimately prevailing 21-17.
This defeat ended "Vivo Kulawut"'s run at the semifinals, earning him the bronze medal and a missed chance to defend his Asian Championship title. Meanwhile, Ayut Shetty made history by reaching the final for the first time at this level.