It was one of those nights where Lakshya Sen started fast, gave everyone hope, but walked away second best. The Indian shuttler went down to China’s Li Shi Feng in the men’s singles final of the Hong Kong Open 2025, losing 21-15, 21-12 at the Coliseum on Sunday.
A Week That Reminded Everyone of Lakshya Sen’s Talent
Sen hadn’t reached a big final in a while, so just getting here felt like progress. The way he played through the week had shades of the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion people remember.
He beat HS Prannoy early in the draw and later pushed aside Ayush Shetty, who has been making waves as India’s next prospect. But the real highlight was the semifinal against Chou Tien-Chen, the experienced Taiwanese. Sen edged him out in two nerve-wracking games, 23-21, 22-20 a result that showed he still has that stubborn fighting edge when the rallies get long.
Source: Indian Express
That win alone gave fans hope he could upset Li in the final.
The Final That Slipped Away
For a few minutes, it looked like it might happen. Sen flew out to a 4-0 lead in the opening game, catching Li off guard with sharp smashes and early interceptions at the net. The crowd buzzed.
But badminton can turn quickly. Once Li adjusted, the momentum shifted. He slowed the rallies, forced Sen into lifts, and took control at the mid-game interval, leading 11-10. From there, Li barely gave him an inch. Sen kept trying the big shots, but the errors came too often. First game done: 21-15.
Source: Tribune India
The second game was almost a replay. Sen raced to 4-1, again pushing the pace. Again Li clawed back. One seven-point burst from the Chinese completely deflated Sen’s momentum. From 4-1 up to 4-8 down, the Indian never really recovered. The end came fast 21-12 with Li sealing it on a net winner that Sen couldn’t even move for.
Source: India Today
What the Numbers Say
Looking at the stats, the story is clear:
- Sen led twice early but couldn’t hold it.
- Unforced errors hurt badly, especially in the second game.
- Li dominated net play, usually Sen’s comfort zone.
- Longer rallies went China’s way.
Sen actually won the first four points of both games but then lost 42 of the next 65. That swing alone explains how the match slipped.
Not All Bad News
Even in defeat, there are positives. Sen made his first Super 500 final in nearly two years. He beat a top-10 player in Chou Tien-Chen. He looked sharper, lighter on his feet, and more confident than he has for months.
The rivalry with Li Shi Feng also has history. This was their 14th meeting, dating back to junior days. Li leads the head-to-head, but Sen has beaten him before. Sunday’s loss just showed the gap in consistency, not talent.
Source: Indian Express
A Hard Day for Indian Badminton
It wasn’t only Sen who came close. In men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also fell short. They took the opening game 21-19 but couldn’t close it out, losing to China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in three games.
Two finals, two silvers. Not the fairytale finish fans wanted, but still a sign India is competing at the sharp end of world badminton.
Source: Times of India
What Comes Next
For Sen, this silver is a step in the right direction. He’s only 24, and his best badminton is still ahead of him. The takeaway is simple: cut down the errors, stay composed after strong starts, and keep pushing the top names.
If he keeps this up, a gold medal isn’t far away. Hong Kong 2025 may not have ended in celebration, but it did remind everyone that Lakshya Sen is very much still in the conversation.
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Sagnik Banerjee
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