Did Lakshya Sen's Journey End in India Open Badminton?
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Synopsis
In a dramatic turn of events, India's badminton hopes were dashed as Lakshya Sen fell short in the quarterfinals of the India Open 2026. After an intense battle with Lin Chun-Yi, Sen's journey ended, leaving fans disappointed. Will Indian badminton rise again? Discover the thrilling details of this encounter and what lies ahead for the sport in India.
Key Takeaways
- Lakshya Sen exits India Open 2026 after a hard-fought quarterfinal match.
- Despite an early lead, Sen could not maintain his performance against Lin Chun-Yi.
- The match highlighted the challenges athletes face under varying conditions.
- Indian badminton has a bright future with potential stars like Sen.
New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) The hopes of Indian badminton came to an unexpected halt as Lakshya Sen became the last home contender to exit the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament, India Open 2026. He faced defeat in the men's singles quarterfinals, losing in a gripping three-game match held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi on Friday.
After the early exits of PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and H.S Prannoy, Sen emerged as India's only remaining hope in the competition. However, he was ultimately bested by Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei, currently ranked 12th in the world. The match ended with scores of 21-17, 13-21, and 18-21, spanning just over an hour.
During the encounter, Sen matched Lin's pace throughout but faltered in crucial moments, losing the final exchanges. Though he won the first game, he faced challenges on the faster side of the court, resulting in the loss of the subsequent two games.
“It was a close match. The third set was more of a pressure game. He played well given the conditions. I was not prepared for the wind today,” Sen commented after the match. “I struggled at the net and made several errors,” he added.
Before the quarterfinals, Sen had a head-to-head record of 0-4 against Lin, indicating the need for top performance against the agile left-hander. His strategy involved keeping Lin close to the net, which initially paid off in the first game.
However, after switching sides, Sen's lifts became too long, allowing Lin to capitalize and push the match to a deciding game.
In the deciding set, despite starting strong with four consecutive points, Lin's control of net play shifted the momentum. After leveling the score at 18-18, Lin accelerated his game to secure victory after an intense hour and eight minutes. Sen will now face Victor Lai of Canada, who defeated Chi Yu Jen from Chinese Taipei.
In other semifinal action, former world champion Loh Kean Yew from Singapore will compete against third seed Jontan Christie of Indonesia.
Results:
Men’s singles: 3-Jontan Christie (Ina) bt 5-Christo Popov 21-19, 21-19; 8-Loh Kean Yew (Sin) bt 2-Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) 14-21, 21-15, 21-17; Victor Lai (Can) bt Chi Yu Jen (Tpe) 21-18, 17-21, 21-15; Lin Chun-Yi (Tpe) bt Lakshya Sen 17-21, 21-13, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: 2-Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) bt Lee Jhe-Huei/Yang Po-Hsuan 21-19, 21-14; Victor Lai (Can) bt Chi Yu Jen (Tpe) 21-18, 17-21, 21-15;
Women’s singles: 2-Wang Zhi Yi (Chn) bt Natsuki Nidaira (Jpn) 20-22, 21-13, 21-9; 4-Chen Yu Fei (Chn) bt 5-Han Yue (Chn) 21-8, 21-18; 1-An Se Young (Kor) bt 6-Putri Kusuma Wardani (Ina) 21-16, 21-8; 7-Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) bt Beiwen Zhang (USA) 21-16, 21-12.
Women’s doubles: 1-Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning (Chn) bt 7-Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min (Chn) 21-14, 21-15; 6-Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee (Kor) bt Hsu Ya Ching/Sung Yu-Hsuan (Tpe) 21-19, 21-9; 5-Yuki Fukshima/Mayu Matsumoto (Jpn) bt Jeong Na Eun/Lee Yeon Woo (Kor) 21-10, 21-10; 2-Pearly Tan/Thinaah Miuralitharan (Mas) bt 8-Hsieh Pei Shan/Hung En-Tzu (Tpe) 21-16, 21-10.
Mixed doubles: 1-Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (Chn) bt 8-Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie 21-19, 19-21, 21-18; 3-Dechapol Purvaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran (Tha) bt 5-Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (Fra) 21-6, 21-15; 2-Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin (Chn) bt Yuichi Shimogami/Sayaka Hobara 25-23, 21-18; Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Boje (Den) bt 6-Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (Chn) 21-13, 14-21, 21-11
Point of View
I recognize the emotional toll this defeat takes on fans and the national spirit. Despite the disappointment, it is crucial to acknowledge the resilience of our athletes. Lakshya Sen's journey, though cut short, showcases the immense talent that exists in Indian badminton. The future is bright, and with support, these players can bounce back stronger.
NationPress
18/01/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Lakshya Sen in the India Open?
Lakshya Sen was eliminated in the men's singles quarterfinals after losing to Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in a close match.
How did Lakshya Sen perform in the match?
Sen started strong but ultimately lost in three games with scores of 21-17, 13-21, and 18-21.
What does this loss mean for Indian badminton?
This loss marks the end of India's campaign in the tournament, but it highlights the talent and potential for future successes.
Who will Lakshya Sen face next?
Lakshya Sen will face Victor Lai of Canada in his next match.
What were the key moments in the match?
Key moments included Sen winning the first game but struggling with momentum and consistency in the following games.
