Lakshya Sen's Brave Effort Falls Short at India Open Quarterfinals

Lakshya Sen delivered an impressive performance at the India Open quarterfinals, earning applause from the crowd for his skills. Despite a strong start, he ultimately lost to Lin Chun-Yi in a closely contested match. The game featured thrilling rallies and strategic plays, but errors proved costly for Sen. After the match, he reflected on his challenges with the windy conditions. Lin will now face Victor Lai in the semifinals, while the women's singles also showcased exciting matches. Read on for a detailed account of this gripping encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 17, 2026, 05:30 IST

Lakshya Sen's Quarterfinal Journey

On Friday, Lakshya Sen captivated the audience with his remarkable skills, earning a standing ovation after executing a stunning back-of-body retrieve during his quarterfinal clash against Lin Chun-Yi from Chinese Taipei. Despite his impressive performance, Sen was unable to secure victory, losing the match with scores of 21-17, 13-21, and 18-21, which marked the end of India's hopes in the ongoing India Open.

The match showcased a variety of thrilling plays, including powerful down-the-line smashes, crosscourt jump shots, and precise drop shots. However, both competitors struggled with errors, particularly as they adjusted to the drift in the arena.

Sen began the first game cautiously, falling behind 2-5 early on. Nevertheless, he regained his composure with strategic net play and a mix of effective shots, ultimately winning the first game despite Lin's attempts to rally back. The second game saw a shift in momentum, with Lin taking control and capitalizing on Sen's mistakes, leading to an 11-6 advantage at the mid-game break.

In the third game, Sen surged ahead with a 4-0 lead, but Lin quickly matched him with a series of winners. After a back-and-forth exchange, Sen managed to tie the score at 18-18, thrilling the crowd with his back-of-body retrieve. However, Lin's clever return of serve and a forced error from Sen allowed him to clinch the match with a decisive smash.

"It was a tightly contested match. The third set was particularly intense. He adapted to the windy conditions better than I did today," Sen reflected post-match. "I struggled at the net and made several errors," he admitted.

Lin will advance to face Victor Lai of Canada, the bronze medalist from the 2025 World Championships, who triumphed over Chi Yu Jen. In the other semifinal, Singapore's Loh Kean Yew will compete against Indonesia's Jonatan Christie.

In the women's singles, former champion Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand defeated Beiwen Zhang with a score of 21-16, 21-12, while top seed An Se Young easily overcame Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani, winning 21-16, 21-8. The other semifinal will feature an all-Chinese matchup between second seed Wang Zhi Yi and Chen Yu Fi.