Anna 
Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen advanced to the quarter-finals of the All England Open 2025 men’s singles event with a commanding win in Birmingham on Thursday. However, the day brought disappointment for India’s men’s doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who withdrew from their match due to an injury.
Sen Dominates Defending Champion
Lakshya Sen, ranked 15th in the world, delivered a stunning performance to defeat defending champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in straight games, 21-13, 21-10. The Indian shuttler controlled the match from the start, never trailing in the first game and maintaining a five-point lead at the interval in the second. The match lasted just 36 minutes, marking a significant victory for Sen against the world No. 2.
This win was particularly sweet for Sen, as Christie had knocked him out in the semi-finals of the All England Open last year. Sen will now face China’s Shi Feng Li, the reigning Asian Games champion and world No. 6, for a spot in his second consecutive semi-final at the BWF Super 1000 event.
Chirag-Satwik Forced to Withdraw
India’s top-ranked men’s doubles duo, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, had to retire from their round of 16 match after Chirag suffered a back muscle strain in the second game. The world No. 12 pair had lost the first game 21-16 and were tied 2-2 in the second when they decided to pull out against China’s Xie Hao Nan and Zeng Wei Han, ranked 33rd in the world.
Other Indian Results
In the women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand staged an impressive comeback to defeat eighth seeds Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong of South Korea. Trailing 15-12 in the deciding game, the Indian duo rallied to claim a hard-fought 15-21, 21-18, 21-18 victory, securing their place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, suffered an early exit from the women’s singles event after losing in the first round on Wednesday.
World No. 28 Malvika Bansod also faced a tough challenge against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, a two-time world champion and current world No. 3. Bansod fought hard but lost 21-16, 21-13 in the women’s singles category.
In mixed doubles, India’s Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde were outplayed by China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Wei Ya Xin, who secured a 21-12, 21-10 victory.
What’s Next?
With Sen and the women’s doubles pair still in contention, Indian fans will be hoping for more success as the tournament progresses. Sen’s quarter-final clash against Shi Feng Li will be a crucial test as he aims for another deep run in the prestigious event.
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