India's badminton campaign at the Asian Games 2026 has suffered significant setbacks, with prominent shuttlers Lakshya Sen and the top men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty both exiting the tournament prematurely.
Lakshya Sen's Challenging Asian Games Run Concludes
Lakshya Sen, a former Commonwealth Games gold medalist, saw his individual Asian Games journey end in the second round after a hard-fought three-game loss to Singapore's Loh Kean Yew. Sen fell 12-21, 21-15, 14-21 in a match that highlighted inconsistencies in his play.
Sen started the opening game strongly, taking a 5-1 lead, but then conceded eleven consecutive points, ultimately losing it 12-21. He mounted a commendable comeback in the second game, displaying better shuttle control and winning 21-15 to force a decider. However, despite a rally in the final game, where scores were nearly level at 13-14, Sen struggled against Loh Kean Yew's aggressive body attacks, losing concentration and eventually the game 14-21.
Earlier Blow: Satwik-Chirag's Shock Exit
Sen's defeat compounded India's woes, coming just one day after the unexpected second-round exit of the country's top-ranked men's doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Their early departure, following a stellar run that included a fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, had already cast a shadow over India's medal aspirations in badminton.
The collective performance has raised questions about the form of India's leading badminton players at this crucial international event. While Sen had previously shown glimpses of his best, particularly in the men's team quarter-final where he secured a vital 1-0 lead against Japan, his individual campaign at the Asian Games ultimately fell short.