Lakshya Sen Shines at BWF World Championships 2026 with Impressive Victory

Lakshya Sen's Remarkable Comeback

In a thrilling display of skill, Lakshya Sen spearheaded India's efforts on Day 2 of the BWF World Championships 2026, triumphing over Austria's Collins Valentine Filimon in a three-game match at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Tuesday.

After a slow start, Sen rallied to secure a victory with scores of 16-21, 21-8, 21-4, advancing from the men's singles Round of 64.

Initially, Sen faced challenges against Filimon, who led 11-10 at the halfway mark of the first game. Struggling to find his rhythm, Sen made several errors, allowing Filimon to clinch the first game 21-16.

However, the Indian player turned the tide in the second game. After a 6-6 tie, Sen took charge of the rallies, building a significant lead and winning the game 21-8, forcing a decisive third game.

In the final game, Sen showcased his best performance, racing to an 11-1 lead at the interval and ultimately winning 21-4 to secure his spot in the next round.

Unnati Hooda and Women's Doubles Success

In women's singles, Unnati Hooda also advanced, defeating Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar with scores of 22-20, 21-16 in her opening match.

Hooda faced a tough challenge in the first game, but she maintained her composure to win 22-20, before gaining control in the second game to secure a straight-game victory.

India's women's doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also progressed to the Round of 16, defeating the American duo of Lauren Lam and Allison Lee with scores of 21-15, 21-12.

The Indian pair, ranked 39th globally, dominated both games, preventing their opponents from applying consistent pressure.

Mixed Doubles Challenges

Unfortunately, India's other women's doubles team, Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi, exited the tournament in the Round of 32, losing to Bulgarian sisters Stefani and Gabriela Stoeva with scores of 7-21, 14-21.

Despite a strong start in their previous match against Spain's Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez, they struggled against the experienced Bulgarian pair.

India's mixed doubles teams faced setbacks as well. Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh, who entered as last-minute reserves, participated in a dramatic match but ultimately lost 16-21, 30-29, 24-22 to Turkey's Emre Sonmez and Yesemen Bektas.

The second game featured a rare Golden Point, with the Indian duo winning 30-29 after a tie at 29-29. However, they couldn't capitalize on their chances in the final game, falling 22-24.

Overall Performance and Future Prospects

Ruthvika Gadde and Rohan Kapoor also faced elimination after a closely contested match against Canada's Crystal Lai and Jonathan Lai, winning the first game 22-20 but losing the next two 19-21, 17-21.

India had a strong start at the World Championships, with all five entries winning their respective Round of 64 matches on the opening day.

Notably, Ayush Shetty achieved a stunning upset against top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China, winning 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in men's singles. Five-time world medallist PV Sindhu also began her campaign with a comfortable victory over Ireland's Sophia Noble.

The 2026 World Championships, taking place in New Delhi from August 17 to 23, marks the tournament's return to India for the first time since 2009. With Sen, Hooda, and Treesa-Gayatri advancing, hopes are high for continued success as the competition progresses.