India's Lakshya Sen Reaches All England Semifinals

BIRMINGHAM, England — India's Lakshya Sen advanced to the semifinals of the All England Open Badminton Championships with a straight-games victory over China's Li Shifeng on March 7 at the Utilita Arena.

The world No. 12 Indian defeated the world No. 6 Chinese player 21-13, 21-16 in a match that lasted about 50 minutes. Sen, who finished as runner-up in the 2022 edition of the prestigious USD 1.45 million tournament, showcased aggressive play and solid defense to control the quarterfinal encounter. This marks his third semifinal appearance at the event, following a semifinal finish in 2024.

Sen started strongly in the opening game, building an early 10-4 lead through sharp smashes and precise placement that kept Li on the back foot. Despite a brief fightback from Li, who narrowed the gap with powerful crosscourt shots, Sen regained momentum and closed out the game in 24 minutes with a fortunate net cord aiding his 18-13 advantage.

The second game was tighter, with both players trading points to reach 6-6. Li responded to Sen's leads with body smashes and net play, leveling the score at 9-9 and later at 12-13. Sen, however, elevated his intensity, covering the court energetically...