New Delhi, Jan 17: India’s top men’s singles shuttler Lakshya Sen saw his India Open 2026 campaign come to an end on Friday after a hard-fought quarterfinal defeat against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi at the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.In a tense clash that lasted 68 minutes, Sen started strongly by taking the first game 21-17, energising the packed home crowd. However, Lin responded emphatically in the second, winning 21-13 and forcing a deciding third game. In the final set, Lin edged out Sen 21-18, ending the Indian’s bid for a title on home soil.
Sen showed grit and skill throughout the match, staying competitive even as conditions shifted. He produced some spectacular rallies and controlled the frontcourt with sharp net play, especially early on. A thrilling rally in the third set drew loud cheers from fans, but despite his best efforts, crucial errors at key moments gave Lin the advantage.