Badminton – Lakshya Sen Advances to All England 2026 Semifinals After Strong Victory
Badminton – India’s leading men’s singles badminton player Lakshya Sen continued his impressive run at the All England Open 2026, defeating China’s sixth seed Li Shi Feng in straight games to secure a place in the tournament’s semifinals on Friday night.
The Indian shuttler produced a confident performance to win the quarterfinal clash 21-13, 21-16 in just about an hour. With this result, Sen progressed to the final four stage of one of badminton’s most prestigious tournaments. He will now face Canada’s Victor Lai in the semifinal, after Lai overcame Japan’s Koki Watanabe 18-21, 21-17, 21-15 in another quarterfinal match.
Confident Run Through the Tournament
Lakshya Sen, who finished as runner-up in the 2022 edition of the All England Open, has shown strong form throughout the 2026 campaign. The 24-year-old currently remains the only Indian player left competing in the tournament.
Sen began his journey with a significant victory against top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi. That opening-round win set the tone for the tournament. In the next round, he defeated Hong Kong’s experienced shuttler NG Ka Long Angus to advance to the quarterfinals.
Heading into the match against Li Shi Feng, Sen carried strong momentum. Interestingly, both players had been evenly matched in previous meetings, with their head-to-head record tied at seven wins each before this encounter.
Dominant Opening Game
The quarterfinal began with Sen taking control early through aggressive attacking play and precise court coverage. The Indian player quickly built a comfortable lead, moving ahead 10-4 in the opening game.
Although Li Shi Feng attempted to close the gap and narrowed the score to 15-13, Sen responded with remarkable composure. He won six consecutive points to finish the first game 21-13, gaining an important psychological edge in the contest.
Tight Contest in Second Game
The second game proved more competitive as Li started strongly and maintained pressure during the early rallies. The Chinese shuttler even held a narrow one-point advantage at the mid-game interval, indicating that the match could extend further.
However, Sen maintained patience and capitalized on key moments. With the score standing at 13-14, the Indian player produced a decisive run, claiming four straight points to regain control. From there, he kept the momentum and prevented Li from mounting any comeback, eventually sealing the game 21-16.
The victory ensured Sen’s place in the semifinals, marking another significant step in his campaign at the historic tournament.
Focus on Recovery Ahead of Semifinal
After the match, Sen spoke about the physically demanding nature of the quarterfinal, especially the extended rallies between both players. He noted that fatigue had started to set in during the later stages of the contest.
According to Sen, his strategy during those long exchanges was to remain patient and avoid making unforced mistakes. He mentioned that his coach reminded him that his opponent was also experiencing similar exhaustion during the intense rallies.
“There were a lot of long rallies and I was getting tired,” Sen said after the match. “But the coach reminded me that he was also getting tired. I focused on staying patient and making fewer mistakes.”
One Match at a Time Approach
Despite his strong performance and a place in the semifinals, Sen said he is not thinking too far ahead in the tournament. Instead, his immediate priority is proper recovery before the next match.
The Indian player emphasized that he plans to take the competition step by step rather than focusing on the title race at this stage. With only a few matches left in the tournament, maintaining fitness and concentration will be crucial for his chances of reaching the final.
Sen’s upcoming semifinal against Canada’s Victor Lai is expected to be a competitive contest, as both players have shown resilience and strong form throughout the tournament.