Lakshya Sen, the final remaining Indian contender in the men's singles category, navigated a grueling pre-quarterfinal clash at the All England Badminton Championships 2026 on Thursday, March 5. Facing a formidable challenge from Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long, Sen had to dig deep to keep India's hopes alive in the prestigious tournament.
Lakshya Sen rolls into All England Championships quarters
The match was a rollercoaster of momentum, starting with Sen narrowly clinching the opening game 21-19. However, he faced a setback in the second, failing to capitalize on his lead and dropping the game 21-23. Forced into a high-stakes decider, the Indian shuttler found a new gear, dominating the final set 21-10 to completely overwhelm his opponent and secure his spot in the next round.
Lakshya Sen scripts notable milestone with win over Angus Ng Ka Long
This victory marked a significant personal milestone for Sen, as it was his first career win against the Hong Kong veteran in three attempts. Having previously suffered defeats to Ng Ka Long at the 2022 Hylo Open and the 2023 Malaysia Masters, Sen’s clinical performance in the third game signaled a breakthrough in their head-to-head rivalry.
Sen secured the opening game 21-19 following a grueling battle. The Indian shuttler consistently gained the upper hand by dominating net play and executing sharp cross-court smashes, a tactical approach that forced Angus to stretch across the court and commit errors.
In the second game, Sen appeared to be in total control, using his front-court dominance to race to a commanding 14-7 lead. However, the veteran from Hong Kong mounted a spirited fightback, gradually eroding the deficit to snatch the game 23-21 and push the match into a decider.
Despite the setback, Sen remained unfazed in the final set, sprinting to an early 5-1 lead. He maintained this relentless pressure throughout the decider, never allowing his opponent the space to stage another comeback. With this win, Sen advances to the quarterfinals, where he will face the winner of the match between World No. 6 Li Shi Feng and Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen.