India’s Lakshya Sen delivered a ruthless and high-energy performance to storm into the men’s singles semi-finals of the All England Open Badminton Championships, thrashing China’s Li Shifeng in straight games in Birmingham on Friday.
This will be Lakshya’s third appearance in the men’s singles semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.
The 12th-ranked Indian looked in complete command as he dismantled world No. 6 Li Shifeng 21-13, 21-16 at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, sealing his place in the last four with a performance full of pace, precision and authority.
Lakshya came out firing from the very first rally. Aggressive on the attack and sharp on the court, the Indian dictated the tempo with crisp smashes and smart placement. His attacking game was sensational, with the timing of his shots repeatedly catching Li Shifeng off guard.
Equally impressive was Lakshya’s defence. Time and again he turned defence into attack, producing quick retrieves from the forecourt and forcing the Chinese shuttler into uncomfortable positions. A couple of delicate backhand drops further underlined the variety in his game.
Lakshya set the tone early, racing to a 9-4 lead in the opening game with relentless pressure and superb court coverage. Mixing aggression with precision, the Indian kept Li Shifeng pinned back and denied the world No. 6 any rhythm.
The second game began with longer rallies and quicker exchanges at the net as Li Shifeng tried to claw his way back into the contest. However, Lakshya maintained his composure and control, keeping the pressure on with well-placed smashes and tight net play.
With momentum firmly on his side, the Indian closed out the match with a 21-16 win, completing a dominant straight-games victory to march into the semi-finals.
Before the quarter-final clash, Lakshya and Li Shifeng had faced each other 14 times on the international circuit, with the head-to-head record evenly poised at 7-7.
Lakshya’s run in Birmingham has been impressive throughout the week. His campaign gathered momentum with a stunning opening-round upset of reigning world champion Shi Yuqi, a victory that set the tone for his strong showing at the historic tournament.
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