ODENSE: Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty put up a spirited fight before going down in three games against France’s Toma Junior Popov on a disappointing day for the Indians at the Denmark Open Super 750 badminton tournament here on Tuesday.

World No 30 Shetty, who bagged his maiden Super 300 title at the US Open earlier this year, matched the 15th-ranked Frenchman shot for shot in a gruelling one-hour 17-minute contest before losing 19-21, 21-17, 15-21.

The 20-year-old Indian had his moments, especially in the second game where he kept up a steady rhythm to force a decider. However, Popov’s experience and sharper net play made the difference in the closing stages.

This was Shetty’s second consecutive defeat to Popov after losing to him in the prequarterfinals of the Malyasia Masters i

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