India's mixed doubles pairs faced early exits at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026, with both teams losing in the opening round.
But it was end of the road for Sen's compatriot Kiran George, who lost 20-22, 10-21 to Malaysia's Jing Hong Kok.
India ace Lakshya Sen made a fine start to the new season, advancing to the men's singles second round with a hard-fought win over Jia Heng Jason Teh of Singapore at the Malaysia Open Super 750 badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
Lakshya Sen fought through a bruising three-game contest but fell short in the decisive moments to go down in three games against Chinese Taipei's World No. 12 Lin Chun-Yi in men's singles quarterfinals as the home challenge ended at the India Open Super 750, in New Delhi, on Friday.
The top-16 in the world by April-end will make the cut for the Olympics.
India's Lakshya Sen won his second successive BWF World Tour Super 100 title with a thrilling victory over China's Weng Hong Yang in the final of the SaarLorLux Open, in Saarbrucken, Germany, on Sunday.
In the mixed doubles, the Indian duo of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto lost 13-21, 12-21 to the Chinese pair of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the first round.
India secured a 4-1 victory against Canada in their opening Group A tie of the Thomas Cup Finals, with wins from Ayush Shetty and the doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
Indian shuttlers P V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen entered the quarterfinals of Indonesia Masters badminton tournament after securing straight-game wins in their respective round-of-16 matches in Jakarta on Thursday.
Ayush Shetty's comeback win keeps India in the contest after Lakshya Sen and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost their matches against China in the Thomas Cup Finals.
Newly-crowned Canada Open champion Lakshya Sen will hope to continue his winning momentum while beginning his campaign at the US Open Super 300 badminton tournament.
India's badminton team advances to the Thomas Cup semifinals after a decisive 3-0 victory over Chinese Taipei, fuelled by standout performances from Ayush Shetty and Lakshya Sen.
Lakshya Sen's remarkable comeback, Satwik-Chirag's gritty doubles win, and Ayush Shetty's decisive victory propelled India into the Thomas Cup Finals semifinals with a 3-0 triumph over Chinese Taipei.
India's Ayush Shetty defeated world number 7 Lin Shi Feng of China in straight games at the Badminton Asia Championships, advancing to the second round.
Sindhu, Lakshya win openers; Sai Praneeth loses in US Open
Fresh from their Singapore Open victory, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are set to compete in the Thailand Open Super 1000 badminton tournament, while other Indian shuttlers including PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will also participate.
Ace Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen stunned World No. 2 and local favourite Anders Antonsen in straight games to enter the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open Super 750 badminton tournament in Odense on Thursday.
India's top men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded third, also progressed without taking the court after receiving a walkover from USA's Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith.
Lakshya Sen's fine run was snapped after a draining three-game semi-final defeat to Japan's world No. 13 Kenta Nishimoto at the US $475,000 Kumamoto Masters Japan on Saturday.
Two-time Olympics medallist P V Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and the star pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty form the core of India's squad for the Badminton Asia Team Championships, in Qingdao, China, from February 3-8.
India will aim to continue their quest for a second title when they face Japan in the quarterfinals of the Thomas Cup Finals. India progressed to the quarterfinals after finishing second in Group A and will face Japan, who, like them, have won the title once.
Indian badminton player PV Sindhu lost to Akane Yamaguchi in the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open after initially winning the first game.
Lakshya Sen exits, Mannepalli keeps Indian hopes alive at Arctic Open
PV Sindhu exited the Singapore Open after losing to An Se Young, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the semifinals.
Former champion Lakshya Sen produced a composed and tactical performance to advance to the quarterfinals of the $950,000 India Open Super 750 badminton tournament but Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy bowed out after a spirited show, in New Delhi, on Thursday.
Ayush Shetty's silver medal at the Asia Championships has positioned him as a potential men's singles contender for India, boosting the nation's badminton prospects as they prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Star Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen stunned fifth seed Christo Popov of France in straight games to enter the men's singles pre-quarterfinals at the $475,000 Hylo Open Super 500 tournament in Saarbrucken, Germany, on Wednesday.
Sen, 26, who had made it to the Hong Kong Open final but has gone without a title this year, had a tough time beating Shetty in the opening game.
India's men's team secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Australia to reach the Thomas Cup quarterfinals, while the women's team faces a tough road in the Uber Cup after PV Sindhu's defeat against Wang Zhiyi.
Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto progressed to the second round of the Badminton Asia Championships, while Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani exited in the first round.
Ayush Shetty suffered a straight-game loss to Christo Popov as India trailed France 0-1 in the semifinals of the Thomas Cup Finals.
Ayush Shetty suffered a straight-game loss to Christo Popov as India trailed France 0-1 in the semifinals of the Thomas Cup Finals.
India's Ayush Shetty defeated world No. 7 Lin Shi Feng at the Badminton Asia Championships, while PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy also advanced. Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth exited in the opening round.
Lakshya Sen continued his rich vein of form as he sent the world No. 1 and top-seed Axelsen packing
India will aim to continue their quest for a second title when they face Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the Thomas Cup Finals.
Ayush Shetty defeated world No. 7 Li Shi Feng at the Badminton Asia Championships, while PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy also advanced. Other Indian players faced setbacks in the opening round.
One particular shot which left everyone, including Lakshya Sen's opponent Jonatan Christie stunned, was a jaw-dropping behind-the-back return.
Ashmita Chaliha progressed to the women's singles quarterfinals at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 tournament, becoming the only Indian player left in the competition after other Indian players were defeated.
Lakshya Sen is aware that his Olympic qualification is still in choppy waters but said he has been working on his "variations" and "deceptions" during the off-season to regain his world's top-10 position and seal his Paris Games berth.
India will face Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the Thomas Cup Finals, aiming to continue their quest for a second title. India progressed to the quarterfinals after finishing second in Group A. Chinese Taipei, led by world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen, topped Group C.
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