India’s Lakshya Sen produced a ruthless and energetic performance to storm into the men’s singles semi-finals at the All England Open Badminton Championships, defeating China’s Li Shifeng in Birmingham on Friday.
This will be Lakshya’s third appearance in the men’s singles semi-finals at the prestigious tournament.
The 12th-ranked Indian looked in complete command as he dismantled world number six Li Shifeng 21-13, 21-16 at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, sealing a place in the last four with a performance full of pace, precision and authority.
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Lakshya fired the first rally. Aggressive in attack and sharp on the court, the Indian dictated the pace with sharp smashes and smart positioning. His attacking play was sensational, the timing of his shots repeatedly caught Li Shifeng by surprise.
Lakshya’s defense was equally impressive. Time and again, he turned defense into attack, producing quick fetches from the forecourt and forcing the Chinese shuttler into uncomfortable positions. A few fine backhand drops further highlighted the variety in his game.
Lakshya set the tone early, racing to a 9-4 lead in the opening game with relentless pressure and superb court coverage. The Indian mixed aggression with precision, keeping Li Shifeng pinned and denying the world number six any rhythm.
The second game started with longer exchanges and faster exchanges at the net as Li Shifeng tried to claw his way back into the match. However, Lakshya maintained his composure and control, maintaining the pressure with well-placed smashes and tight net play.
With the momentum firmly on their side, the Indian closed out the match with a 21-16 win to complete a dominant straight-sets sweep to advance to the semi-finals.
Prior to their quarter-final clash, Lakshya and Li Shifeng had met 14 times on the international circuit, with their head-to-head record tied at 7-7.
Lakshya’s run in Birmingham has been impressive all week. His campaign gained momentum with a stunning upset of reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in the opening round, a victory that set the tone for his strong showing at the historic tournament.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
06 March 2026 23:41 IST
