New Delhi, March 8 – Two-time Olympic medallist shuttler PV Sindhu praised Lakshya Sen’s “phenomenal run” in the 2026 All England Open, despite his defeat 21-15, 22-20 to Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in the men’s singles final, which resulted in a silver medal. Sindhu highlighted the qualities Sen displayed on the court.
“It’s never easy to come back and play a final less than 24 hours after a tough semifinal. Those matches really take a toll. I remember the 2021 All England Open Badminton Championships. I had a really long quarterfinal against Akane Yamaguchi, and the very next day, I had to step back on the court for the semifinal against Pornpawee Chochuwong. It was incredibly demanding,” Sindhu wrote on X.
Sen spent over five hours on the court in the earlier rounds and faced a challenging opponent in the lightning-fast Lin. He started slowly in the first game, struggling with the depth of his smashes and serves, allowing Lin to gain control and win the opening game.
Sindhu was impressed by Sen’s level of play in the final days. “Lakshya still had a phenomenal week. Beating Shi Yuqi and Li Shifeng in the same tournament speaks volumes about the level he’s playing at. And Lin Chun Yi’s attack at times really reminds you of his namesake Lin Dan. He was very decisive and explosive,” she added.
In the second game, Sen increased his pace, winning six consecutive points from 3-4 to lead 9-4. However, Lin gradually clawed back, engaging Sen in long rallies and ultimately converting his second match point to win the title. Lin became the first men’s singles player from Chinese Taipei to win the prestigious tournament.
“It was a tough loss, but don’t worry, Lakshya. For the general public, the All England Open Badminton Championships is often seen as the pinnacle due to its history and prestige. But on the tour, it is one of the four Super 1000 events we play every year, and opportunities keep coming. With the kind of skill Lakshya has, weeks like this will keep repeating. Hopefully, this momentum will carry through the rest of the Super 1000 events this season as well,” she concluded.
This was Sen’s second All England final appearance after 2022, highlighting his skill, determination, and resilience despite falling just short of the trophy.
