In a display of sheer willpower that transcended physical limits, Lakshya Sen stormed into the final of the All England Open 2026 on Saturday, overcoming Canada’s Victor Lai in a grueling 97-minute semifinal. Battling excruciating blisters and leg cramps that threatened to force a retirement, the 24-year-old Almora native secured a 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 victory, moving within one win of ending India’s 25-year drought at the prestigious tournament.
The world number 12 will now face world number 11 Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei in Sunday’s summit clash. If he succeeds, he will join legends Prakash Padukone (1980) and Pullela Gopichand (2001) as the only Indians to hoist the trophy in Birmingham.
The match was less a game of badminton and more a test of human endurance. Lai, of Hong Kong descent, forced Sen into a cycle of endless exchanges, refusing to commit to kills and instead opting to blunt every Indian attack.
The statistics from the encounter are staggering:
Opening rally: 52 shots.
Longest rally: 86 shots (concluding a point in the third game).
Total duration: 97 minutes.
Despite severe cramping, Sen unleashed a 354 kph cross-court smash in the decider.
The match reached its emotional apex in the third game. At the final change of ends, Sen was forced to lie on his back as his coach, Yoo Yong Sung, and physio frantically worked on his seized-up muscles. Having returned late to the court, he was shown a yellow card and given a blunt ultimatum by the chair umpire: "Continue playing or retire."
Sen chose to fight. Realizing his legs could no longer sustain long rallies, he shifted to a "100% attack" strategy, opting for aggressive, leaping smashes early in the point to bypass Lai’s retrieving skills.
Starting the third set, I could feel the cramps and didn’t know if I could go all the way. I was just trying to fight every point... telling myself 'just one more point'
Lakshya Sen
Victor Lai, while disappointed, acknowledged that the match was won in the mind. "Kudos to him," the Canadian said. "Even though he was cramping, he pushed on. I think mentally, he was a little bit stronger than me."
The victory has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest displays of grit in Indian sporting history, with PV Sindhu noting the match reminded her of the legendary 2017 World Championship final.
Previous best: Lakshya was runner-up at the All England in 2022.
Wait: India has not won the Men's Singles title since 2001.
Sunday's rival: Lin Chun-yi (World No. 11); Lin holds a slight ranking advantage over Sen (No. 12).
Survival: Sen survived an 86-shot rally at 4-4 in the decider that ended with a controversial "brush" fault against Lai.
Lakshya Sen has one day to recover from the most punishing match of his career. Sunday’s final is not just about a Super 1000 title; it is about cementing a legacy. In the final year of the 21-point format at the All England, Sen’s performance stands as an "ode to endurance."
