2 weeks ago
Garret Tan Stuns Home Favourite Lakshya Sen at Worlds
Garret Tan, an 18-year-old badminton player from the United States, played Lakshya Sen of India.
The match happened at the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi.
Sen was the home favourite, but Tan won the close match.
Tan lost the first game 19-21.
He won the next two games 21-19 and 21-17.
The match lasted 73 minutes.
Tan used strong smashes whenever Sen sent the shuttle too short.
Sen struggled to defend and fell behind early in the final game.
Tan then changed where he attacked and finished the match with two powerful smashes.
World No. 92 Garret Tan of the United States defeated India’s Lakshya Sen 19-21, 21-19, 21-17.
The 73-minute Badminton World Championships match was played in New Delhi on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Tan repeatedly attacked Sen with powerful overhead and cross-court smashes after short lifts.
Sen, ranked 14th, had already survived a first-round scare against Austria’s Collins Valentine Filimon.
Sen’s coach Vimal Kumar said there was no excuse for the performance, while Tan’s team credited their plan of targeting Sen’s forehand back corner.
- Who
- Garret Tan of the United States defeated India’s Lakshya Sen, who was ranked 14th.
- What
- Tan won their Badminton World Championships singles match 19-21, 21-19, 21-17.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
- Why
- Tan exploited Sen’s short lifts, attacked his forehand back corner and maintained pressure with powerful smashes.
Sen’s Performance Concerns
Tan’s Tactical Success
Reason for the result
Sen’s Performance Concerns
Sen’s coach Vimal Kumar said there was no excuse for the performance and criticized Sen’s rushed rallies, short lifts and lack of composure.
Tan’s Tactical Success
Tan’s coaches said they recognized that Sen needed to be kept near the backline and targeted his forehand back corner with tosses and clears.
Match momentum
Sen’s Performance Concerns
Sen said he was always covering leads and playing under pressure, while his comeback in the deciding game began too late.
Tan’s Tactical Success
Tan held a 4-12 lead in the decider, resisted Sen’s recovery to 10-13 and changed his attacking flank late in the match.
Key facts
- Winner
- Garret Tan
- Defeated player
- Lakshya Sen
- Final score
- 19-21, 21-19, 21-17
- Match duration
- 73 minutes
- Tan’s ranking
- World No. 92
- Sen’s ranking
- World No. 14
- Tournament
- Badminton World Championships
- Location
- New Delhi, India
Quotes
Vimal Kumar
Lakshya Sen's coach
“Last couple of points I changed my flank.”
indianexpress.com
“There is no excuse for this performance.”
indianexpress.com
Paula Lynn
Lakshya Sen's childhood coach
“We noticed.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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