Lakshya Sen's Epic Comeback Shocks Shi Yuqi in All England Opener

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.