Lakshya Sen Storms into All England Open Semifinals with Stellar Performance

India's top badminton player Lakshya Sen advanced to the All England Open 2026 semifinals by defeating former champion Li Shi Feng. The 24-year-old showcased remarkable skill, setting up a semifinal clash against Canada's Victor Lai. Sen, remaining focused, aims to keep his momentum going in his pursuit of the title.

India's leading badminton player, Lakshya Sen, continued his impressive performance at the All England Open 2026, securing a place in the semifinals after a decisive victory over sixth seed and former champion, Li Shi Feng. The 24-year-old Sen overcame Li in straight games, winning 21-13, 21-16 in an hour-long encounter on Friday night.

Sen, who was a finalist at the All England in 2022, will now face Canada's Victor Lai in the semifinals. Lai defeated Japan's Koki Watanabe in a hard-fought quarterfinal match. Sen's path to the semifinals included an upset over top seed Shi Yu Qi and a victory against Hong Kong's NG Ka Long Angus in earlier rounds.

Adopting an aggressive approach, Sen initially opened a 10-4 lead against Li, who narrowed the gap during the first game. However, Sen's resilience saw him clinching six consecutive points to win the opening game. Despite a strong start from Li in the second game, Sen's strategic play earned him a place in the semifinals. Post-match, Sen emphasized the importance of avoiding errors and focusing on recovery for the upcoming clash.

(With inputs from agencies.)