“At the 2025 BWF World Championships, Lakshya Sen was defeated in the opening round by top seed Shi Yuqi.”

At the 2025 BWF World Championships, former bronze medallist Lakshya Sen put up a strong fight in the first round, but China’s top seed Shi Yuqi was too formidable. This defeat was Lakshya’s ninth first-round exit this year.

2025 BWF World Championships – Lakshya Sen Takes On Shi Yuqi:

Lakshya Sen’s bid for redemption in Paris ended in under an hour, as the Indian shuttler fought hard but fell to China’s Shi Yuqi in the opening round of the BWF World Championships. Shi Yuqi secured the win with scores of 21-17, 21-19, at the very venue where Lakshya had faced disappointment during last year’s Olympics.

The 2021 bronze medallist fought courageously, attempting to challenge Shi, who came into the tournament in exceptional form, having clinched titles at the China Open, Japan Open, and the All England earlier this year.

The encounter featured intense rallies and rapid exchanges, pushing the match toward a decisive finish. Sen lagged slightly at the mid-game intervals, with the scores at 9-11 in the first half and 7-11 in the second, but staged an impressive comeback. The second game was tied at 19-19, giving Sen an opportunity to seize control, yet he faltered under pressure as Shi ultimately claimed victory.

Sen had shown consistent form in past editions of the World Championships, claiming a bronze medal in 2021 and reaching the pre-quarterfinals in both 2022 and 2023. However, on Monday, he suffered his earliest exit in the current tournament.

This marked Sen’s ninth first-round defeat of an otherwise erratic season, hampered by two injury setbacks and a slump in form. Apart from reaching the All-England Open quarterfinals earlier this year, the young shuttler has struggled to perform consistently in major tournaments.

A promising development?

Despite the loss, Sen’s performance in Paris showed promise. He displayed moments of brilliance, defending exceptionally well, though he was occasionally too passive in attack. His smashes lacked the precision of Shi Yuqi’s deadly cross-court shots.

Following the first game, Sen’s coaches advised him to lift the shuttle less and focus on a tighter net game to counter Shi’s attacks. However, China’s top shuttler continuously pressured him, ultimately winning the match in straight games.

The tone of the match was established early when Lakshya Sen and Shi Yuqi engaged in a 47-shot rally in the opening game. Both players covered the court with remarkable speed, though Shi’s defence stood out during the initial exchanges.

During the first game, the drift shifted from right to left, offering some help to Lakshya, but he lacked the confidence to exploit the open space. Trailing by only two points at the mid-game interval, he lost momentum afterward, rendering his efforts ineffective.

Sen started the second game strongly but again failed to make the most of his attacking opportunities. At 18-19, he gained a brief advantage when the umpire awarded him a point after the shuttle had clearly bounced before he could reach it. Shi tried to challenge the call, but the umpire ruled in Lakshya’s favour. Still, Lakshya couldn’t keep up his momentum, and with the score tied at 19-19, he missed the chance to take the match to a decider.

Sen faced a difficult draw, and his prospects in the tournament were already challenging, having met an in-form Shi Yuqi in the very first round. Despite this, the young shuttler had shown confidence leading up to the event.