Lakshya Sen Exits Early at China Masters; Srikanth Advances

Lakshya Sen was eliminated from the China Masters in Shenzhen on September 1, 2026, following a disappointing match against Canada's Victor Lai. Sen, a bronze medalist at the 2021 World Championships, lost in straight sets with scores of 14-21 and 7-21, taking just 38 minutes to complete the match.

This defeat marked Lakshya's third loss to Lai, with his only victory occurring at the All England Championships earlier this year. In contrast, Kidambi Srikanth, also a 2021 World Championships medalist, advanced to the second round after defeating Chi Yu Jen from Chinese Taipei with scores of 21-16 and 21-15.

Additionally, India's mixed doubles team of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto progressed by winning against Thailand's Tonnakorn Saeheng and Tonnicha Saeheng with a score of 21-8, 21-9. Lakshya's recent performances have been challenging, following an early exit from the World Championships held in India.