Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen suffered a straight-sets defeat to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the Round of 32 at the Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China, on April 8. The scoreline read 12-21, 19-21 in a match that lasted just 41 minutes on Court 3.
The 24-year-old Sen, ranked inside the world’s top 15 and carrying expectations after a month’s rest following his All England Open campaign, could not find his rhythm against a familiar and dangerous opponent. Lee, who now leads the head-to-head 4-2 (having won the last three meetings), controlled the tempo from the outset with sharp smashes and precise net play. Sen mounted a brief fightback in the second game, closing to within touching distance, but Lee’s consistency proved decisive.
This result extends Sen’s disappointing record at the continental championships he has now exited in the opening round in multiple recent editions. Coach U Vimal Kumar had highlighted the draw as a golden opportunity: win here and a blockbuster clash against home favourite Shi Yuqi awaited in the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, the first-round “jinx” struck again.
Yet, one match does not define a season, and Sen’s trajectory tells a far more encouraging story.
Just last month at the All England Open 2026, Sen produced arguably the performance of his career. He fought through blisters, cramps, and a marathon semi-final to stun World No. 1 Shi Yuqi before reaching the final (where he fell to Lin Chun-yi). That run, combined with his earlier heroics in helping India to Thomas Cup glory and consistent deep finishes on the BWF World Tour, reaffirmed his status as the country’s premier men’s singles hope.
At 24, Sen remains one of Asia’s most promising talents technically complete, mentally tougher than ever, and still improving. A single early exit in Ningbo changes nothing about his upward curve. Indian badminton has seen enough from him to know that these setbacks fuel greater comebacks.
The focus now shifts to recovery and the next big targets: the Thomas Cup, remaining Super 1000 events, and ultimately the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Lakshya Sen has already shown he belongs among the world’s elite. Today’s result is merely a detour, not the destination. The best, as they say, is still ahead.