Birmingham, March 6 – In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, India’s Lakshya Sen powered into the quarterfinals of the All England Open 2026 by defeating Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus in a gripping pre-quarterfinal clash. The 24-year-old shuttler, who had already caused a major upset by ousting defending champion Shi Yu Qi in the opening round, scripted history with his first-ever victory over Angus after three prior losses.
The match, lasting one hour and 21 minutes, unfolded in three intense games with Sen emerging victorious 21-19, 21-23, 21-10. Sen started aggressively in the opener, maintaining a slender lead throughout. Angus fought back fiercely, leveling at 19-19 with three straight points, but Sen clinched the game with two crucial points.
The second game saw Sen surge to an 11-4 lead, but Angus mounted a stunning comeback. The Hong Kong veteran saved three match points from 17-20 and another at 20-21, forcing a decider. Sen reflected post-match, ‘Both games were solid, credit to Angus for that comeback in the second. I didn’t play well at the end, giving away easy shots, but I was ready to go all out in the third, and I’m thrilled with how I performed.’
In the decider, Sen dominated completely, racing to a 20-9 lead despite Angus saving one match point. His tactical discipline shone through as he stuck to his plan, overcoming earlier lapses. ‘Tactically, I was on point in both games, but faltered in the final points. The key was forgetting the first two and focusing on the third with the working strategy,’ Sen added.
As the lone Indian survivor in men’s singles, Sen awaits the winner of China’s sixth seed Li Shi Feng and Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen. This victory not only avenges past defeats but boosts Sen’s confidence ahead of a potential medal charge in this prestigious BWF Super 1000 event. Fans are buzzing about the 2022 finalist making another deep run.