Birmingham, March 8 (NationPress) Battling through blisters on his right foot, India’s acclaimed shuttler Lakshya Sen ended as the runner-up, succumbing to Lin Chun-Yi from Chinese Taipei in the men’s singles final of the All England Open Badminton Championships 2026 held at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Sunday.

Sen faced defeat with scores of 15-21, 20-22 in a tightly contested match that spanned 57 minutes. This marks the second occasion the talented player from Uttarakhand has taken home a silver medal from this event, having lost in the final in 2022.

Having spent over five hours competing in prior rounds leading to the final, Sen put forth a valiant effort against the speedy Lin but ultimately found himself on the losing end once more.

Lin, who had previously secured the India Open Super 500 title earlier this year, achieved a historic milestone as the first men’s singles player from Chinese Taipei to win this prestigious championship.

Lin commenced the match with vigor, quickly establishing dominance in the first game. The shuttler from Chinese Taipei surged ahead with a succession of aggressive rallies, pushing Sen to defend from the start. Although the Indian player managed to reclaim a few points through enhanced aggression and superior control at the net, Lin maintained his lead as they approached the mid-game interval.

Post-break, Lin continued to set the pace, widening his advantage with a series of successful points. Although Sen sought to orchestrate a comeback, Lin remained unfazed and secured the first game at 21-15, leveraging his strong start.

Slow to find his rhythm, Sen eventually began to pressure Lin into extended rallies but struggled with the accuracy of his lifts and tosses, allowing Lin to capitalize with cross-court winners.

Faced with a must-win scenario in the second game, Sen responded with tenacity, discovering his rhythm and gaining control of the rallies. He strung together an impressive sequence of points, building a substantial lead and demonstrating his intent to push the match to a decisive third game. His enhanced movement and aggressive play kept Lin on his toes as he entered the interval in the lead.

However, Lin mounted a formidable comeback after the interval, gradually erasing Sen’s lead and eventually leveling the score in the tense concluding moments. The players exchanged points in an exhilarating finish, with neither willing to yield.

The match reached deuce twice as both competitors showcased exceptional rallies under pressure. In the critical moments, Lin maintained his composure, edging past Sen 22-20, completing a remarkable recovery from a deficit in the second game to claim the championship.

Despite the loss, Sen displayed commendable skill and resilience, particularly in the second game. Lin, on the other hand, concluded a remarkable tournament campaign with a poised performance in the final, securing the prestigious title.