India’s top-ranked men’s singles player, Lakshya Sen, continued his impressive performance at the All England Open 2026 by defeating sixth seed and former champion Li Shi Feng in straight games. Sen’s victory of 21-13, 21-16 in an hour secured his spot in the semifinals, where he will face Canada’s Victor Lai. Lai secured his place in the last four by overcoming Japan’s Koki Watanabe in a tough match.
Sen, aged 24, the sole Indian remaining in the competition, started his journey with a notable upset victory over top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi. He then went on to defeat NG Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong in the second round. Going into the quarterfinals against Li, Sen displayed confidence, backed by a level head-to-head record of 7-7 with his opponent.
In the quarterfinal match, Sen took an aggressive stance, establishing a 10-4 lead in the first game. Although Li narrowed the gap to 15-13, Sen responded with six consecutive points to claim the game. The second game was closely contested, with Li initially holding a slight advantage. However, Sen rallied from 14-13 to secure a lead and prevent Li from staging a comeback, ultimately securing his spot in the semifinals.
Reflecting on the match, Sen emphasized his focus on avoiding mistakes during long rallies, acknowledging the fatigue both players experienced. Looking ahead, Sen remained grounded, focusing on recovery and taking each match as it comes, without getting ahead of himself.
