Lakshya Sen Loses to Li Shi Feng

India’s Lakshya Sen put up a strong fight but lost in three games to world No. 7 Li Shi Feng of China in the Thomas Cup Finals on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

The defeat gave China an early 1-0 lead over India in their final Group A match of the tournament.

Lakshya started the match well and kept the first game very close. However, he narrowly lost it 19-21 after a tight battle. He then bounced back strongly in the second game, dominating Li Shi Feng with confident attacking shots and winning it comfortably 21-8.

In the deciding third game, Lakshya struggled to maintain his momentum. Li Shi Feng regained control of the match and played more consistently, while Lakshya made a few errors under pressure. The Chinese shuttler eventually sealed the match by winning the final game 21-12.

This was a tough result for Lakshya Sen, especially because he had recently defeated Li Shi Feng during his runner-up run at the All England Championships last month. However, he was unable to repeat that performance in this crucial team event.

The loss put India under pressure early in the tie against China, as they looked to secure a strong finish in the group stage of the Thomas Cup Finals.

Despite the defeat, Lakshya’s fighting spirit and ability to challenge a top-ranked opponent showed his potential and continued importance to the Indian badminton team in major international competitions.