Birmingham, March 3: In an impressive display on the opening day of the All England Open 2026, Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen achieved a remarkable upset. Competing in Birmingham, he eliminated the reigning champion, China’s Shi Yuqi, in the first round of this prestigious tournament.
The 24-year-old Sen won the match in a thrilling 1 hour and 18 minutes, with scores of 23-21, 19-21, and 21-17. In the first game, he showcased aggressive play, establishing a lead of 17-10. Although Shi Yuqi mounted a comeback to narrow the score to 18-17, Sen maintained his composure and secured the first game.
In the second game, the Chinese player made a strong recovery. Sen, trailing at 13-19, fought hard but ultimately lost the game 19-21.
In the decisive third game, Sen demonstrated excellent control at the net and took an early lead in fast-paced rallies. He reached a 16-11 advantage and earned four match points. Although Shi Yuqi saved one match point, her final shot went out, allowing Sen to clinch the victory.
In mixed doubles, the Indian duo of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also performed well, defeating Malaysia’s Peng Ron and Cheng Su Yin with scores of 21-17, 21-19 to advance to the second round.
However, in women’s singles, Malvika Bansod faced a tough challenge against third-seeded Chen Yufei from China, losing 21-11, 21-6. Expectations were high for Bansod in the absence of PV Sindhu, but she was unable to deliver a strong performance.
Indian star PV Sindhu could not participate in the tournament due to being stranded in Dubai amid the Middle East crisis, preventing her from reaching Birmingham. The highlight of the first day was undoubtedly Lakshya Sen’s historic victory, which captured the hearts of many.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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