Lakshya Sen Stuns Defending Champion at All England Open 2026

Sen's Remarkable Upset

In a stunning turn of events at the All England Open 2026, India's Lakshya Sen eliminated top seed and reigning champion Shi Yuqi from China in the men's singles first round on Tuesday. The match, which lasted one hour and 18 minutes, concluded with scores of 23-21, 19-21, and 21-17, as reported by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

Mixed Doubles Success

Also moving forward to the next round were India's mixed doubles team of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, who triumphed over the Malaysian duo of Hoo Peng Ron and Cheng Su Yin with scores of 21-17, 21-19. However, the spotlight was firmly on Sen's impressive victory.

Match Breakdown

The 24-year-old Sen, who had previously only defeated Shi during the Asian Games team championships, started strong with an aggressive strategy. He surged ahead to a 17-10 lead in the first game, but Shi rallied to narrow the gap to 18-17. Despite Shi saving multiple game points, Sen ultimately secured the first game.

In the second game, Shi took control, forcing Sen to recover from a 13-19 deficit, which led to a decisive third game.

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

Other Indian Performances

In contrast, Malvika Bansod's journey in the tournament came to an end after a defeat against third seed Chen Yu Fei from China, with scores of 21-11, 21-6.