Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen delivered a determined performance to enter the men’s singles final of the All England Open Badminton Championships on Saturday. The world No. 12 overcame Canada’s world No. 16 Victor Lai in a thrilling three-game semifinal clash.
Sen won the match 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 after a hard-fought battle that lasted one hour and 37 minutes. The contest tested the stamina and skill of both players, featuring long rallies and intense exchanges that kept the match evenly poised until the closing moments.
Tough Battle With Long Rallies
The semifinal encounter saw both players pushing each other to the limit with several rallies stretching beyond 50 strokes, making it one of the most physically demanding matches of the tournament.
The opening game remained closely contested until the score reached 17-16. At that stage, Sen showed his composure and attacking intent, winning four consecutive points to claim the first game.
However, Victor Lai bounced back strongly in the second game, raising his intensity and eventually taking it 21-18 to level the match.
Sen Holds Nerve in Deciding Game
In the decisive third game, Lakshya Sen adopted a more tactical approach and surged ahead with a 15-9 lead. Lai once again fought back and narrowed the gap to 17-15, raising hopes of another comeback.
But Sen showed remarkable resilience and composure under pressure. The Indian shuttler counter-attacked effectively and sealed the match by winning four consecutive points, securing his place in the final.
A Chance to Join Indian Legends
Sen’s impressive run at the All England Open Badminton Championships has reignited hopes of another Indian champion at the historic tournament.
His mentor, legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone, reached the All England final in 1980 and 1981, winning the title during his first appearance in the summit clash.
Another Indian legend, Pullela Gopichand, won the prestigious title in 2001.
Apart from them, only a few Indians have come close to the crown. Prakash Nath finished runner-up in 1947, while Saina Nehwal also reached the final in 2015, ending as runner-up.
Second All England Final for Lakshya Sen
This will be Lakshya Sen’s second appearance in the All England final. The Indian had earlier reached the summit clash in 2022, where he finished as runner-up.
Sen has enjoyed a strong run throughout this year’s tournament. In the quarterfinals, he defeated China’s world No. 6 Li Shi Feng in straight games. Earlier in the first round, he produced a major upset by beating world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China.
Final Showdown Against Lin Chun-Yi
In the championship match on Sunday, Lakshya Sen will face Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi.
Lin secured his place in the final after defeating Thailand’s world No. 2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in the other semifinal.
With strong momentum and impressive wins over top-ranked opponents, Sen will now aim to capture the prestigious All England crown and join the list of India’s badminton greats.