All England Open: Lakshya Sen beats top seed Shi Yu Qi; Tanisha-Dhruv progress in mixed doubles
Lakshya Sen produced a display of mental strength and physical prowess to defeat China’s Shi Yu Qi in a gripping three-game contest that swung on razor-thin margins and relentless pace here on Tuesday.
Lakshya prevailed 23-21, 19-21, 21-17 in a match that was as physical as it was tactical, marking his first victory over the former world No. 1 in a BWF World Tour event. Lakshya had earlier defeated the Chinese player in the Asian Games team championships in 2023.
“Lakshya was very calm and composed today. Right from the start, he made Shi work hard for every single point, and eventually the Chinese player began to tire,” coach Vimal Kumar told PTI.
“At one stage in the second game, I felt Lakshya was getting a bit fatigued, but he recovered well and raised his level. His attacking play was excellent too. Overall, it was a very confidence-boosting win,” he added.
Lakshya looked sharp from the outset, opening up an 11-7 lead at the mid-game interval in the first game with angled smashes and quick interceptions at the net. He stretched it to 17-12, repeatedly breaking down Shi’s defence with cross-court winners and tight exchanges.
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However, the contest turned dramatic when Lakshya squandered leads of 18-12 and 19-16. Shi fought back strongly to level at 20-20 and forced 21-all after saving multiple game points. Lakshya eventually sealed the opener with a decisive cross-court smash after earning another opportunity.
Shi responded well in the second game and entered the interval with a narrow cushion. The rallies grew longer and more punishing as both players engaged in a fierce physical battle, with the match often coming down to key moments.
Lakshya trailed 13-19 at one stage but mounted a spirited comeback to close the gap to 18-19. Shi, however, produced a strong body smash to earn a game point and took the game 21-19 to force a decider.
Lakshya’s game was defined not just by raw power but also disciplined defence and sharp net play. His intensity forced Shi to play closer to the lines and take risks as the Indian retrieved shuttle after shuttle.
In the decider, the two were locked at 6-6 before Lakshya edged ahead and carried a narrow 11-9 lead into the final interval. From there, he raised his level further, extending the lead with a series of winners.
Shi briefly stayed in the contest after a successful video referral, but Lakshya remained composed. He soon earned match points and sealed the contest when Shi hit long.
In other results, Malvika Bansod suffered an 11-21, 6-21 loss to China’s Chen Yu Fei.
The mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto registered a 21-17, 21-19 win over Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin.
Published on Mar 03, 2026