Lakshya Sen faces one of the toughest opening-round tests of his career at the All England Open 2026 when he takes on world No. 1 Shi Yuqi on March 3 in Birmingham.
The 24-year-old Indian enters the prestigious Super 1000 tournament still searching for his first title of the 2026 season. However, he heads into the clash with confidence after ending a three-year title drought in November 2025 by lifting the Australian Open crown.
Sen has shown flashes of top form this year but has struggled in deep runs. He suffered three consecutive quarter-final exits at the India Open, Indonesia Masters and the Badminton Asia Team Championships.
And it doesn’t get tougher than this. Shi Yuqi arrives in Birmingham not only as the world No. 1 but also as the defending All England champion, having claimed the title in 2025. The Chinese star has been one of the most dominant forces on the circuit,
He kicked off the 2026 season in form, reaching the finals at the Malaysia Open 2026 but but was forced to retire in the summit clash against Kunlavut Vitidsarn due to injury. Now he is back and faces the world no.12 Lakshya Sen.
What a opening round fixture!🤩
Last year’s winner and World Number 1 Shi Yu Qi vs runner up in 2022, Lakshya Sen!
It’s bound to be an explosive opening round game!💚💙
Get your tickets now#YAE26 #YonexAllEngland pic.twitter.com/Waw9UvTSVA
— 🏆 Yonex All England Badminton Championships 🏆 (@YonexAllEngland) February 27, 2026
The head-to-head record makes the challenge even tougher for the Indian. Sen and Shi have met four times, and the Indian is yet to register a win.
Their most recent encounter came at the 2025 World Championships, where Sen, yet again, lost 17-21, 19-21. But, it was a match that showed how close Sen is to cracking the code.
For Sen, now this match is an opportunity to break a losing streak against the world’s best, and to announce himself as a genuine title contender at one of badminton’s most prestigious events.
For Shi Yuqi, it is about defending his crown and reinforcing his status at the summit of the sport and against Lakshya Sen.
Lakshya Sen vs Shi Yuqi Head-To-Head Record:
Matches played: 5
Lakshya Sen wins: 0
Shi Yuqi: 4
Lakshya Sen vs Shi Yuqi past meetings:
| Aug 25, 2025 | World Championships | R64 |
Shi Yuqi
won |
21-17, 21-19 |
| Jun 03, 2025 | Indonesia Open | R32 |
Shi Yuqi
won |
21-11, 20-22, 21-15 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | Asia Championships | R32 |
Shi Yuqi
won |
21-19, 21-15 |
| Nov 22, 2023 | China Masters | R32 |
Shi Yuqi
won |
21-19, 21-18 |
| Oct 01, 2023 |
Asian Games (Team) |
Final |
Shi Yuqi
won |
22-20, 14-21, 21-18 |
When is Lakshya Sen vs Shi Yuqi All England Open 2026 opening round match?
Lakshya Sen will take on Shi Yuqi in All England Open 2026 opening match on March 3, Tuesday at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, King Edwards Road.
Where to watch Lakshya Sen vs Shi Yuqi All England Open 2026 opening round match?
The match will be available to watch live on the BWF TV YouTube channel. More details regarding live streaming in India and other countries will be updated soon.
