Indian Badminton Stars Face Mixed Fortunes at All England Open

The All England Open badminton tournament saw Indian players experiencing a mix of triumph and defeat. While Lakshya Sen stunned the defending champion Shi Yuqi, the men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty faced an early exit. Additionally, Malvika Bansod was eliminated in her match against third seed Chen Yu Fei. Read on to discover the highlights and lowlights from this prestigious event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 4, 2026, 23:32 IST

Early Exit for Satwiksairaj and Chirag

In a disappointing turn of events, the prominent Indian men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty was eliminated in the first round of the All England Open on Wednesday. They faced off against the unseeded Malaysian pair of Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing, losing in straight sets. The first game was closely contested, with Malaysia edging out a victory at 23-21, followed by a more decisive 21-12 win in the second game.

Lakshya Sen's Remarkable Upset

Earlier that day, Lakshya Sen made headlines by defeating the top seed and defending champion Shi Yuqi from China in the men's singles first round. The match, which lasted an hour and 18 minutes, saw Lakshya triumph with scores of 23-21, 19-21, and 21-17, marking a significant upset in the tournament.

Advancements in Mixed Doubles

Also progressing to the next round were India's mixed doubles team of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, who secured a win against the Malaysian duo of Hoo Peng Ron and Cheng Su Yin with scores of 21-17 and 21-19. However, the spotlight was undoubtedly on Lakshya Sen for his impressive performance.

Sen's Strategy for Success

The 24-year-old Lakshya, who had previously only defeated Shi in the Asian Games team championships, applied pressure with an aggressive strategy. He initially took a commanding 17-10 lead in the first game, but Shi fought back to narrow the gap to 18-17. Despite this, Lakshya managed to secure the game after saving multiple game points.

In the second game, Shi took control, forcing Lakshya to recover from a 13-19 deficit, ultimately leading to a deciding third game.

In the final game, Lakshya showcased his net control and dominated the exchanges, establishing a 16-11 lead before earning four match points. Although Shi saved one, he ultimately faltered, allowing Lakshya to clinch the match.

Malvika Bansod's Disappointing Exit

On a less favorable note, Malvika Bansod's journey in the tournament concluded with a loss against third seed Chen Yu Fei of China, with scores of 21-11 and 21-6.