Lakshya Sen Stuns Defending Champion Shi Yu Qi at All England
Lakshya Sen made a thunderous start to his All England campaign, stunning defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi in a gripping three-game battle on Wednesday.
The 12th-ranked Indian prevailed 23-21, 19-21, 21-17 in a high-quality Round of 32 contest, avenging his straight-games defeat to Shi at last year’s World Championships in Paris. The victory was only Sen’s second career win over the Chinese star, the first coming at the 2022 Asian Games team event.
The opening game was a test of nerve and patience. At game point, the duo engaged in a bruising 35-shot rally, both refusing to overcommit and opting for percentage play. Sen eventually forced the error, but Shi responded immediately to push the contest into multiple deuces. Holding his composure under pressure, the Indian edged it 23-21.
Shi raised the tempo in the second game. After Sen moved ahead 8-6, the reigning champion shifted gears, reeling off five quick points to take control at 11-8. His sharper movement and command at the net tilted rallies in his favour, and despite Sen’s attempts to vary length and angles, Shi’s transition from defence to attack proved decisive as he closed it out 21-19.
The decider turned into a tactical arm-wrestle. Sen capitalised on a brief dip from Shi to build a slender cushion at the interval. The Chinese shuttler came out firing, unleashing steep smashes to claw back momentum, but Sen countered with deft net play and disciplined placement to keep himself ahead.
There were late jitters. Sen briefly faltered with an overhit baseline shot, while Shi stayed alive with a successful review. But as pressure mounted, it was the Indian who held firmer. Shi’s uncharacteristic errors crept in at crucial moments, and Sen seized his opportunity to seal a statement victory.
With the win, Sen moves into the Round of 16, where he will face Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long.
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