Lakshya Sen misses shot at All England Open Championships title, loses to Chinese Taipei star

Lakshya Sen loses in All England Open Championships final

Sen’s path to the final was nothing short of giant-killing. Earlier in the tournament, he stunned the badminton world by knocking out world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi in the opening round. He followed that momentum into the quarter-finals, where he ousted the sixth-ranked reigning Asian Games champion, Li Shi Feng. His resilience was further tested in a grueling 97-minute semi-final marathon against Canada’s Victor Lai, where he battled through physical exhaustion, cramps, and blisters to earn his spot in the final.

In the title match, however, the physical toll of his journey became apparent. Lin Chun-Yi, who entered the final fresh off a semi-final victory over Olympic silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn, seized control early with a barrage of powerful smashes. Having spent over five-and-a-half hours on the court throughout the week, Lakshya struggled to maintain the high intensity required to counter the physically imposing Lin, who navigated a comparatively less taxing route to the championship.

Despite not being at his physical peak, Paris 2024 semi-finalist Lakshya Sen relied on his tactical guile to challenge Lin Chun-Yi’s explosive power. In a spirited second-game effort, the 24-year-old Indian shuttler managed to carve out an early 9-4 lead. However, the advantage was short-lived as the Chinese Taipei player clawed back, leading to a series of grueling rallies. In a high-stakes finish, Lakshya managed to save a match point, but he ultimately succumbed in straight games.