India’s Lakshya Sen produced a commanding performance to reach the men’s singles semi-finals of the All England Open Badminton Championships, defeating China’s Li Shifeng in straight games in Birmingham on Friday.
The world No. 12 Indian shuttler looked in complete control as he beat the sixth-seeded Li 21-13, 21-16 in a 45-minute quarter-final clash at the Utilita Arena Birmingham. With the victory, Lakshya advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament for the third time in his career. He will next face the winner of the quarter-final between Canada’s Victor Lai and Japan’s Koki Watanabe.
Lakshya had previously finished runner-up in 2022, losing the final to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, while his 2024 campaign ended in the semi-finals after a defeat to Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie.
Lakshya dominates from the outset
Lakshya started the match on the front foot, dictating the pace with aggressive strokes and sharp court movement. His attacking intent put Li under immediate pressure, with powerful smashes and precise placements forcing errors from the Chinese shuttler.
His defence was equally impressive. Lakshya repeatedly turned defensive situations into attacking opportunities with quick reactions at the net and excellent court coverage. The Indian raced to a 9-4 lead in the opening game, maintaining relentless pressure and denying Li any rhythm. With controlled aggression and consistency, Lakshya comfortably closed out the first game 21-13.
Strong finish seals semi-final spot
The second game proved more competitive as Li attempted to fight back with longer rallies and sharper exchanges. However, Lakshya remained composed at key moments and produced a timely burst of points to regain control.
Riding the momentum, the Indian wrapped up the contest 21-16, sealing a convincing straight-games victory to book his place in the semi-finals.
Lakshya has also been reversing several unfavourable head-to-head records during the tournament. The win over Li ended a three-match losing streak against the Chinese player. Earlier in the week, he also snapped a run of defeats against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long and China’s Shi Yuqi on the BWF World Tour.
With his confidence growing and form peaking, Lakshya will now look to take another step towards the title at one of badminton’s most prestigious events. 🏸
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