Alwi Farhan defeats Ayush Shetty, advances dramatically to All England 2026 Round of 16.

Indonesian Men's Singles Badminton Player Indonesian Men's Singles, Alwi Farhan states that seeded status is no guarantee of victory in the men's singles sector of the All England Open 2026. Alwi advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating India's representative Ayush Shetty in a dramatic duel in the round of 32.  

“Several seeded players getting eliminated immediately in the first round is concrete proof that in men's singles, seeds aren't always the benchmark. Anyone can win matches. Everyone has equal opportunities, so whoever is better prepared will win,” said Alwi in an official PBSI PBSI statement on Thursday.

During the 75-minute, three-game match at Utilita Arena Birmingham, England, early Thursday morning WIB, Alwi won 19-21, 21-9, 21-17.

This victory came amid the elimination of several seeded players in the first round, including top seed Shi Yu Qi from China and third seed Anders Antonsen from Denmark.

For Alwi, competing in the world's oldest Badminton Tournament brought special emotional significance.

“First, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God). It's an honor and pride to play at the All England. A dream come true,” he said.

Initially, Alwi started convincingly, even leading by six points in the first game.

But momentum shifted when the match stopped multiple times due to Shetty sustaining a knee Injury requiring medical attention.

Shetty capitalized on the situation, recovering from a 10-16 deficit to level at 17-17 before clinching the first game 21-19.

Alwi acknowledged losing focus during the interruptions.

“I think I lost momentum in the first game due to several medical breaks. But I tried to stay focused point by point,” he said.

Entering the second game, Alwi became more aggressive, dominating 11-4 at the interval before closing it 21-9.

In the deciding game, Alwi demonstrated mental maturity, leading by five points at the interval and maintaining an 18-12 advantage. 

Though Shetty narrowed the gap, Alwi's relentless attacks secured a 21-17 victory.

“In the second and third games, I managed to bounce back. I fought against myself, against my own doubts,” he said.

This result confirms uncertainty in this year's All England men's singles following early exits of top seeds.

“I'll certainly fight for every point. Here, we never truly know each other's strength,” Alwi stated.

In the Round of 16, Alwi will face seventh-seeded Taiwanese player Chou Tien Chen, who advanced after his compatriot Chi Yu Jen retired during the third game at 17-21, 21-14, 11-3.