Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Indian shuttler defeats former champion in straight games; to face Canada’s Victor Lai in the last four
India’s top-ranked men’s singles badminton player Lakshya Sen continued his impressive run at the All England Open 2026, pulling off another major upset to storm into the semifinals. In the quarterfinal played on Friday night, Sen defeated sixth seed and former champion Li Shi Feng in straight games 21-13, 21-16. The match lasted nearly an hour, with the Indian shuttler displaying aggressive and confident badminton to dominate the contest.
The 24-year-old Sen, who was the runner-up at the All England Open in 2022, has been in outstanding form throughout the tournament. He is now the only Indian left in the competition and has reached the semifinals after beating a series of strong opponents. In the last four, he will face Canada’s Victor Lai, who defeated Japan’s Koki Watanabe 18-21, 21-17, 21-15 in the other quarterfinal.
Sen had begun his campaign in spectacular fashion by upsetting top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi in the opening round. He then advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating experienced Hong Kong shuttler Ng Ka Long Angus in the second round. Before the quarterfinal clash against Li Shi Feng, the head-to-head record between the two players stood evenly at 7-7, making the match highly anticipated.
In the opening game, Sen made a strong start and quickly took a 10-4 lead with his attacking style of play. Although Li Shi Feng managed to close the gap to 15-13, Sen responded brilliantly by winning six consecutive points to claim the first game.
The second game turned out to be more competitive, with both players engaging in long rallies and intense exchanges. Li started well and even held a one-point lead at the mid-game interval. However, Sen showed great composure and surged ahead by winning four consecutive points from 14-13, establishing a decisive lead.
Maintaining control in the final phase, Sen ensured that Li had no opportunity to stage a comeback and comfortably sealed the match to book his place in the semifinals.
Speaking after the match, Sen said the long rallies made both players tired, so his focus was on avoiding mistakes. He added that for now he is not thinking about the title but concentrating on recovering well before the semifinal and taking “one match at a time.”