The badminton world was left buzzing after Lakshya Sen’s audacious triumph over China’s Shi Yuqi, the defending All England Open champion, on Day 1 of the 2026 edition in Birmingham. The young Indian, aged 24, navigated a rollercoaster match lasting 78 minutes to win 23-21, 19-21, 21-17, marking one of the tournament’s earliest major upsets.
From the outset, Sen imposed his attacking style, leading 17-10 early in the first game. Shi, a two-time All England winner, clawed back to make it tense at 18-17, but Sen’s mental fortitude shone through, securing the game with clinical finishing.
Shi flipped the script in the second, capitalizing on Sen’s unforced errors to lead 19-13. The Indian mounted a spirited recovery but fell short at 19-21, forcing a decider.
The third game was a masterclass from Sen, who excelled in mid-court battles and net exchanges. Forging ahead 16-11, he converted his fourth match point after Shi’s desperate save on the third. This victory catapults Sen into the spotlight ahead of tougher challenges.
In other Indian results, Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto progressed in mixed doubles by defeating the Malaysian pair 21-17, 21-19. Malvika Bansod, stepping up in Sindhu’s absence amid regional travel disruptions, was outplayed 21-11, 21-6 by Chen Yufei.
Lakshya’s performance signals India’s growing depth in men’s singles, setting high expectations for the week.