Lakshya Sen Vs Shi Yuqi LIVE Score, All England Open: Indian Shuttler Floors World No. 1

Lakshya Sen has finally cracked Shi Yuqi, and what a stage to do it on. One match point saved, but that was all the world No. 1 could manage tonight. The pressure had been building on his lifts all evening, and fittingly, it’s a lift from the net that sails long to seal his fate.

Sen doesn’t explode. He turns, spots his coach grinning wide, walks in for a tight hug. Then straight to the net, calm, respectful handshake, before acknowledging the crowd.

Seventy-eight minutes of relentless, high-quality badminton. Nearly three years of waiting to get past this opponent. And now, it reads: 23–21, 19–21, 21–18.

Lakshya Sen leads 13–11 in game three, and this is high-quality stuff from both ends. Sen is doing a smart job of controlling the rally tempo, using deep clears to push Shi Yuqi to the baseline and then suddenly injecting pace with a steep cross smash.

Shi is still dangerous in the forecourt, especially on the tight net exchanges, but Sen has just a slight edge right now. Two-point cushion. In a decider, that’s precious, but far from safe.

Shi Yuqi takes the second game 21–19 and we’re headed for a decider. He stepped up in the closing stretch, sharper at the net, quicker on the follow-up after his smashes, and just a touch more precise under pressure.

Lakshya Sen pushed him all the way, clawing back and forcing long rallies, but couldn’t quite close the two-point gap at the end.

One game apiece. Everything now rides on the third.

Lakshya Sen has tightened up his length, pushing the shuttle deeper into the backhand rear corner of Shi Yuqi and forcing slightly shorter replies. He’s also varying the pace better now, mixing steep cross-court smashes with softer drops to break Shi’s defensive rhythm.

Shi, though, is controlling the front court exchanges and looking sharper in transition from defence to attack. Two points separate them, and tactically this is fascinating, Sen trying to extend rallies and create openings, Shi looking to finish quicker and keep the initiative. This endgame phase will come down to precision and nerve.

Momentum swing in the second game.

Lakshya Sen had nudged ahead 8–6 and looked steady, but just like that, Shi Yuqi hits top gear. Five rapid-fire points, sharp and clinical, and the scoreboard flips in a blink.

It’s 13–10 to the Chinese world champion at the mid-game interval. Sen’s got a job on his hands now if he wants to wrap this up in straight games.

Second game underway, and Shi Yuqi has come out firing. He’s sharper, quicker into the rallies, and already putting Lakshya Sen under pressure.

It’s 4–2 to the world No. 1, and you can sense the shift in intensity.

Lakshya Sen pockets the first game, and he had to earn every bit of it.

Lakshya Sen was in total command at 18–12, moving Shi Yuqi around and finishing points with authority. But just when it looked wrapped up, the world No. 1 switched gears, saved three game points, and dragged it into a tense finish.

No panic from Sen though. He stayed composed, trusted his attack, and finally shut the door 23–21 after a hard-fought 30 minutes. One game in the bag, and what a start.

What a rally that was!

Lakshya Sen went all-out attack in what has to be the longest exchange of the match so far, smash after smash, pushing hard for the winner. But the defence from Shi Yuqi was rock solid, absorbing everything and sending it back with interest. In the end, Sen tried to force one more through, but it clipped the tape and didn’t make it over.

Still, he’s right there at 20–18, game points in hand.

Lakshya Sen has his nose in front again and this time he’s made it count. From 11-all, he’s surged ahead to 17–11 with a sharp run of points, putting real pressure on World No. 1 Shi Yuqi. Just 18 minutes in, and Sen is dictating terms in this Round of 32 clash.

World No. 1 Shi Yuqi isn’t letting this slip. He’s clawed his way back and we’re all square at 11–11. Proper arm-wrestle now.

Both players are going shot for shot, testing, probing, but not quite at full throttle yet. It’s intense without being explosive. You can sense they’re feeling each other out, waiting for the right moment to hit top gear.

And quick side note, Lakshya Sen has turned up with a new look. He’s sporting a beard. First time seeing that, I think. New style, same sharp movement on court. Let’s see if it brings him some extra edge today.

And we are underway.

Lakshya Sen has come out firing. Sharp, aggressive, not holding back at all. He’s taking the shuttle early, pushing the pace, and not letting Shi Yuqi settle into rhythm.

It’s 5–2 to Sen and this is exactly the kind of start he would’ve wanted. Positive body language, quick on his feet, and already asking questions of the World No. 1. Early days, yes, but this is intent.

Lakshya Sen is out on the main court, soaking in the atmosphere ahead of his men’s singles clash against World No. 1 Shi Yuqi. The match hasn’t started yet, but the stage is set for a stern test, Sen hasn’t beaten the Chinese star since their first meeting at the 2023 Asian Games team event, and he’ll be looking to change that tonight.

Shi Yuqi was born on 28 February 1996 in Nantong, Jiangsu, and began playing badminton at the age of six before rising rapidly through China’s elite training system.

A Youth Olympic gold medallist in 2014, he transitioned seamlessly into the senior circuit, winning his first Super Series title at the French Open in 2016. Over the years, he has established himself as one of men’s singles’ most complete players, defeating legends like Lin Dan at the All England and steadily building a world-class résumé.

Now the reigning world champion and current All England Open title-holder, Shi sits at World No. 1, anchoring China’s dominance in both individual and team events, including multiple Sudirman Cup and Thomas Cup triumphs.

The All England Open match between Lakshya Sen and Shi Yuqi will be live-streamed in India on the BWF TV YouTube channel for free. There will be no television broadcast of the game.

• Fixture: Lakshya Sen vs Shi Yuqi

• Series: All England Open 2026

• Venue: Minoru Yoneyama court, Utilita Arena Birmingham

• Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

• Time: 5:40 PM IST (subject to change)

Good afternoon, badminton fans! This is the start of our live blog covering Lakshya Sen’s All England Open clash against Shi Yuqi. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and tidbits!