Lakshya Sen Advances to All England Finals, Making History for Indian Badminton

Lakshya Sen's Remarkable Journey to the Finals

Birmingham [UK], March 7: In a thrilling semifinal match, Lakshya Sen etched his name in history by becoming only the second Indian to reach two All England finals, defeating Canada's Victor Lai.

The 24-year-old, who previously made it to the finals in 2022, showcased remarkable resilience, overcoming both a determined Lai and painful blisters on his right toe to secure victory with scores of 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 after an intense hour and 37 minutes.

Sen's coach, Prakash Padukone, was the first Indian to reach the All England finals in 1980 and 1981, winning the title in his debut final, as noted in a recent announcement.

The semifinal was a true test of endurance, featuring numerous rallies that often exceeded 50 strokes, pushing both athletes to their limits.

Sen's strategic play allowed him to clinch the first game, which was tightly contested until he surged ahead with four consecutive points after a 17-16 tie.

However, Lai, who made history as the first Canadian to earn a medal at the BWF World Championships, rallied back in the second game, leading 11-7 at the mid-game break.

Despite battling blisters, Sen managed to equalize at 16-16, but Lai's tenacity saw him take the game, forcing a decisive third set.

In the final game, Sen's experience shone through as he took calculated risks, establishing a 15-9 lead. Lai, known for his fighting spirit, narrowed the gap to 17-15, but Sen responded with four straight points to secure his place in the finals.

In the championship match, Sen will face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei, the India Open champion, who triumphed over second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand with scores of 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in an hour and 18 minutes.