Panaji: Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen advanced to the men’s singles semifinals of the All England Open Badminton Championships after defeating China’s sixth seed Li Shi Feng in straight games.
Lakshya delivered an impressive display to secure a 21–13, 21–16 victory in the quarterfinal, maintaining control throughout the contest with aggressive shot making and consistent pressure. The win marked a significant result for the Indian shuttler, who had previously lost all three of his earlier meetings against the Chinese player.
With this victory, Lakshya moves into the semifinals where he will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Canada’s Victor Lai and Japan’s Koki Watanabe.
Earlier in the tournament, the world number 12 had battled through a demanding round of 16 match against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus. In a fiercely contested encounter filled with long rallies, Lakshya prevailed 21–19, 21–23, 21–10 to progress to the last eight.
During the quarterfinal clash against Li Shi Feng, Lakshya initially trailed in the opening game but quickly regained control with sharp attacking strokes and precise placements. After turning a 4–6 deficit into a comfortable lead, he maintained momentum to close out the first game.
The Indian continued his strong form in the second game, mixing powerful smashes with accurate net play to build an early advantage. His ability to maintain pressure and force errors from his opponent helped him control the pace of the match and secure the straight game victory.
Lakshya, who finished runner up at the tournament in 2022 and won a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships in 2021, now moves one step closer to capturing one of badminton’s most prestigious titles.
With his confidence growing and form improving during the tournament, the Indian shuttler will look to continue his strong run when he takes the court in the semifinal.
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