Badminton
All England Open 2026: Lakshya Sen enters Final – Highlights
Highlights from the semifinals of the 2026 All England Open.
Lakshya Sen will make his third semifinal appearance in Birmingham. (Photo credit: BWF/Badminton Photo)
All England Open 2026 LIVE: India’s Lakshya Sen made his way into the final of the 2026 All England Open Super 1000 with a hard fought win over Canada's Victor Lai in Birmingham on Saturday.
In a marathon 97-minute contest, Sen prevailed 21-16, 18-21, 15-21, battling through blisters, and cramps.
Sen will take on Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun Yi in the title clash on Sunday.
Here’s a look at Lakshya’s outings in the earlier rounds:
Round of 32: bt Shi Yuqi (1) 23-21, 19-21, 21-17
Round of 16: bt Ng Ka Long Angus 21-19, 21-23, 21-10
Quarterfinal: bt Li Shifeng (6) 21-13, 21-16
Highlights:
Live Updates
- 7 March 2026 8:00 PM IST
Two straight points for Lakshya
Lakshya with two straight points after the mid-game break. The latter with some insanely flat play from the net, before Lai hit into the net. 9-11.
- 7 March 2026 7:59 PM IST
Lai LEADS!
Victor Lai opens up a healthy 11-7 lead at the mid-game interval. He opened up a gap on Sen's forehand side and powered a brilliant smash, before Sen erred with a wide shot.
Can Lakshya fightback to win this in straight games?
- 7 March 2026 7:57 PM IST
Sen with a good drop
Sen breaks the run of points for Lai. He is pushed deep into forehand corner and pulls out an exceptional crosscourt drop. There was no way Lai was reaching there. Sen trails 5-9.
An error in judgement from Lai follows at the backline, before Sen wins yet another point with an exceptional net dribble. The deficit has been reduced to two points at 6-9.
- 7 March 2026 7:55 PM IST
Brilliant from Lai
A 59-shot rally, the longest of the match and Sen nearly had Lai on the backfoot.
But the Canadian is known for his defense and he displays exactly why. A diving retrieval before sending back a deceptive return from Sen as well.
He then takes control of the rally and takes a tired Sen by surprise with a crosscourt drop. 8-4 lead for Lai.
- 7 March 2026 7:52 PM IST
Excellent from Sen
Victor Lai pushing hard in flat exchanges. Sen not surprised and brings out a cross court drop. 4-5 trailing, the Indian.
- 7 March 2026 7:51 PM IST
Lai opens up a two-point lead
A 36-shot long rally and Lakshya seemed to be in control for most part, ut eventually a defensive block fails to go past the net. 5-3 for the Canadian.
- 7 March 2026 7:50 PM IST
A short break in play
Brilliant read of the game from Lai as he presses forward to Sen's net dribble and kills the point. 3-3.
He wins the next point as well to go up 4-3.
Lakshya Sen takes a break. "I've a blister on my shoe," he tells the umpire.
The umpire allows the break and he takes off his shoes. There's some tape on his right toe and he rips it off.
- 7 March 2026 7:47 PM IST
Lakshya hits wide
Victor Lai lifts deep on the backhand corner. Lakshya is quick to read and rains down a down-the-line smash. It's wide though.
Two back-to-back points post that for Sen, as Lai finds the net twice. The Indian leads 3-2.
- 7 March 2026 7:46 PM IST
Victor Lai with first point
Victor Lai wins the first point of the second game. He's pushed Lakshya to the defensive and opens up a nice little gap for the first point.
Lakshya, however, equalises with the next rally. Lai seemed to be in control, but Sen throws him off by pressing forward to the net. A return from Lai eventually goes wide. 1-1.
- 7 March 2026 7:43 PM IST
Game 1: Lakshya takes first game 21-16
Another beautiful cross-court winner from the Indian! The crowd goes ballistic. The game looks in Lakshya's favour at 20-15. He has 4 game points. And he does not disappoint.
Game 1: 21-16.
