Defending champion Shi Yu Qi suffered his earliest loss in almost three years, with Lakshya Sen delivering an excellent efficiency within the first spherical of the YONEX All England 2026.
Not because the Thailand Open in May 2023 had Shi did not cross the primary spherical; on Tuesday the world No.1 – finalist at his final six occasions – bumped into an impressed Sen, who managed to place the ultimate items of the puzzle collectively after falling in 4 earlier matches to the Chinese.
The world No.12 stayed the course regardless of dropping a detailed second sport, and got here away winner in 78 minutes, 23-21 19-21 21-17.
“I’m feeling really good and happy with the way I played today,” mentioned Sen. “I’ve been in the same situation a couple of times, in really close matches and lost. I’m happy with the way I pulled it out in the end and kept my patience.”
Sen chalked his win right down to endurance on the finish factors.
“Being patient and changing tactics every now and then, because once he starts reading the game, I have to change a little bit here and there. The net was crucial. And being patient throughout the match was the key. I knew not a lot of easy points were coming, so I had to wait for my chances to hit.”
Another absorbing opening match was between younger stars Alex Lanier and Victor Lai, taking part in his first All England. The Canadian – who rose to stardom with a bronze ultimately 12 months’s World Championships – achieved one in every of his greatest scalps but by taking down Lanier in a three-game thriller, 21-12 21-23 23-21.
“I think we’re both one of the young, up-and-coming players. So the opportunity to play him in a big tournament is also amazing,” mentioned Lai. “My first All England, first time taking part in in England, so I used to be actually excited. Really excited, additionally actually nervous. He’s a prime participant. He’s prime seven on the earth for a motive.
“I always thought that the All England was the biggest tournament after the Olympics and the World Championships. So definitely it’s a big one. I circled it on my calendar. After India Open I had six weeks of training. I had the Pan Am Team Cup in the middle, but I had a good training block just now, so I felt well prepared coming in.”
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