Lakshya Sen Advances to All England Final
Lakshya Sen has reached the final of the All England Open 2026 after a hard-fought semifinal victory over Victor Lai, with match scores of 21-15, 18-21, and 21-16. The match lasted an intense one hour and 37 minutes, showcasing the endurance and skill of both players.
This marks Lakshya Sen’s second appearance in the All England final, having previously reached the final in 2022. He is now aiming to become the third Indian to win the prestigious Super 1000 title, following in the footsteps of legendary shuttlers.
In the quarterfinals, Lakshya had a notable victory against World No. 6 Li Shifeng, demonstrating his capability to compete at the highest levels of the sport. The semifinal match against Lai featured rallies that often exceeded 40 shots, highlighting the competitive nature of the encounter.
Despite facing cramps during the deciding game, Lakshya managed to secure his victory, much to the delight of his coach, Yoo Yong-sung, who watched with pride as Lakshya celebrated his win by punching the air.
PV Sindhu, another prominent figure in Indian badminton, praised both Lakshya and Victor after the match, noting the marathon battle reminded her of the 2017 World Championships final.
With this victory, Lakshya Sen has kept India’s hopes alive in Birmingham, becoming only the second Indian shuttler to reach the All England final twice, a feat previously achieved by Prakash Padukone.
As Lakshya prepares to face Lin Chun-Yi in the final, observers are eager to see if he can clinch the title and etch his name further into the annals of Indian badminton history.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final match preparations and any potential injuries that may affect performance.
