Lakshya Sen Kicks Off BWF World Championship Campaign with Victory Over Austrias Collins Philemon

New Delhi, August 19: India’s top men’s singles player, Lakshya Sen, launched his BWF World Championship 2026 campaign with a victory on Tuesday. He defeated Austria’s Collins Philemon in the ‘Round of 64’ men’s singles event at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, with scores of 16-21, 21-8, 21-4.

The 14th-seeded Indian player took 45 minutes to mount his comeback. After losing the first game, he found his rhythm and did not give his opponent a significant chance to recover.

The first game showcased a fierce contest, with neither player establishing a substantial lead early on. Former bronze medalist Sen and Philemon battled closely, with the Austrian player holding a slight advantage at the interval, leading 11-10. As the game progressed, Sen struggled to maintain his momentum, missing several shots that cost him the tight match. Philemon seized the opportunity, advancing to game points at 20-16, ultimately winning the first game 21-16 in just 15 minutes.

However, the second game saw a complete turnaround. Initially, Philemon stayed close to Sen, tying the score at 6-6. But the Indian player quickly asserted his dominance, winning four consecutive points to take control of the match. He increased the pressure, extending his lead to 20-8 and clinched the second game 21-8 in 16 minutes, pushing the match to a decisive game.

In the final game, Lakshya Sen started aggressively, quickly establishing a lead over the Austrian player. By the interval, he had surged ahead 11-1, making it extremely difficult for Philemon to mount a comeback. Soon, the Indian player was just one point away from victory at 20-4, and he sealed the win in the next rally, finishing the decisive game with a score of 21-4 in only 14 minutes.