Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen advanced to the quarterfinals of the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships after defeating Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus in an intense Round of 16 clash in Birmingham on March 5. The world No.12 Indian shuttler secured the win in a thrilling three-game encounter, continuing his impressive run at one of badminton’s most historic tournaments.
Sen clinched the match with a scoreline of 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 after a gripping battle that lasted three games. With this victory, he booked his place in the last eight of the tournament and will now face either China’s Li Shi Feng or Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen in the quarterfinals.
Lakshya Sen overturns poor record against Ng Ka Long Angus
The win was particularly significant for Lakshya Sen because he had previously struggled against Ng Ka Long Angus. Before this match, Sen had lost all three of their earlier encounters, making Thursday’s victory his first against the Hong Kong shuttler. Their previous meeting had taken place at the Malaysia Masters in 2023.
The opening game began with Angus taking an early advantage, putting Sen under pressure with sharp attacks and quick rallies. The Indian shuttler initially trailed 4-6 but soon found his rhythm, gradually building momentum through precise smashes and solid defense.
Sen turned the tide by winning a series of crucial rallies to move ahead 15-11. The contest intensified as both players pushed each other with long rallies and fast exchanges. At one stage the score was tied at 19-19, creating a tense finish to the first game. Sen maintained his composure at the crucial moment and won two consecutive points to close the game 21-19.
The second game witnessed an even more dramatic contest. Sen started strongly and dominated the early exchanges, racing to an 11-4 lead at the mid-game interval. His aggressive approach and control at the net allowed him to extend the advantage further to 14-7.
However, Ng Ka Long Angus mounted a remarkable comeback. The sixth-ranked Hong Kong player began closing the gap with powerful smashes and improved defensive play. He won several consecutive rallies and reduced the deficit to 17-19, putting Sen under pressure once again.
The match reached a tense stage at 20-20 when Sen earned a match point but failed to convert it. Angus capitalized on the opportunity and soon gained a game point with a sharp smash. Sen then hit the net during the next rally, allowing Angus to take the second game 23-21 and force the contest into a deciding third game.
Dominant decider seals quarterfinal berth
After losing the second game in a tight finish, Lakshya Sen regrouped quickly and returned with renewed determination in the deciding game. The Indian shuttler began the third game aggressively, racing to a 6-2 lead with accurate placement and quick movement around the court.
Sen’s defensive stability and attacking variety started to trouble Angus. The rallies gradually became shorter as the Hong Kong player began committing errors under pressure. Sen widened the gap to 14-6, establishing clear control of the match.
The Indian star continued to dominate the exchanges by injecting pace into rallies and maintaining strong net control. His relentless attack pushed the score to 18-7, leaving Angus struggling to keep up with the tempo.
With victory within reach, Sen maintained his focus and capitalized on a weak return at the net to move within two points of the win. He eventually sealed the decider convincingly with a 21-10 scoreline, completing an emphatic comeback after the second-game setback.
The victory further strengthened Sen’s reputation as one of India’s most promising badminton talents. Earlier in the tournament, he had already produced a major upset by defeating defending champion Shi Yuqi in the opening round of the competition.
Meanwhile, in other Indian participation at the tournament, mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto remain in contention and are scheduled to face a Hong Kong duo in the Round of 16.
However, India suffered disappointment in the men’s doubles event after the star pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy exited the tournament following a defeat to Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai.
India’s campaign at the All England Open had already been impacted earlier when former world champion PV Sindhu was forced to miss the tournament after being stranded in Dubai amid the escalating Israel–Iran conflict escalation 2026, which disrupted international travel.
