But of course, the newly crowned champion won with a strategy and didn’t hold back from revealing it.

Lin Chun-Yi revealed that he deliberately increased the tempo of the game against Lakshya Sen, using speed to break his opponent and beating him 21-15, 22-20.

“I tried to speed up and make him uncomfortable,” Lin said. “In the second game, because I was against the wind, I had to attack very hard.”

The conditions inside the arena forced the Taiwanese superstar to adjust his approach quickly. Playing against the drift of the wind meant that he had to attack with more power and more precision, requiring sharper and faster decision-making.

Lin said he focused on maintaining pressure regardless of court position. “I had to play with him in a row,” he explained. “I had to score from behind. I had to find a way to score from the front.”

The aggressive approach allowed Lin to control the pace of the rallies and keep Lakshya Sen from getting into the rhythm he is used to. Instead of the slower, longer rallies he is used to, Lin forced him to play quicker points and make much more attacking shot selections.

It was a pre-planned shift in the momentum, rather than an impromptu one. Lin’s strategy relied on a constant aggressive intent and a will to take risks during critical moments.

A landmark week for Lin Chun-Yi and Chinese Taipei

Lin’s victory arrived during a historic moment for Chinese Taipei. Lin made his debut in the top ten of the BWF World Tour rankings this week.

This milestone reflects the 24-year-old superstar’s consistent performance in recent seasons, which has helped him build his reputation.

Simultaneously, veteran compatriot Chou Tien-Chen completed his 500th week in the top ten of the men’s singles rankings.

Since the inception of the modern ranking system, he has been ranked fourth in men’s singles and seventh overall.

Read more at the Ace Badminton Community!

Large tournaments often rely on sending flash social media updates for global fan engagement, and making blunders isn’t a surprising factor of it. And that’s exactly what happened at the All England championship.

The tournament’s sponsor officials account posted a congratulatory message for the winner, but instead of writing Lin Chun-Yi, they misspelled his name as ‘Lin Yi-Chun’ on the post.

This happened after Lin Chun-Yi had just scripted a dramatic title win against India’s Lakshya Sen with a scoreline of 21-15, 22-20 in the men’s singles final.

The controversy erupted after the social media post from the All England Open went viral. Fans were not happy about the fact that the newly crowned champion’s name was misspelled on one of his biggest achievements.

Social Media Error draws major fan backlash

Fans were quick to notice the blunder and they also recalled previous errors linked to the All England Open.

They revealed that last year, the All England Open had posted that the legendary Chinese mixed doubles pair would be participating, even though they had already retired.

“Is this All England admin deliberately posting false information to gain engagement, or is he just being s*****? It’s honestly annoying to see. Last year, they posted that Zheng/Huang would be appearing even though they’d already retired… strange.” a fan commented recalling the incident.

Another fan described the error as “truly unprofessional and disrespectful to the athletes,” noting that such mistakes should not happen at an event with the prestige of the All England.

Another commenter questioned whether the post was a deliberate attempt to generate engagement or simply careless editing.

“An official account that can’t write a winner’s name properly,” another user wrote, echoing the frustration felt across several replies.

Some responded with a lighter tone. They joked that the social media handler might have been overwhelmed with the number of posts required to make during a busy tournament day.

“Yi-Chun is already here haha. ​​is the editor sleepy? I understand there are a lot of posters to make haha,” another fan commented.

The steady progress has now started to show on the world stage.

Muhamad Yusuf has extended a remarkable yet consistent run on badminton’s lower-tier international circuit. He is on a streak where he has yet to suffer an early exit in tournaments classified as Super 100, International Challenge, or International Series.

Across 12 such appearances, Yusuf has always reached at least the quarterfinal stage.

His record at that level speaks the story of a player who rarely loses out early. Muhamad Yusuf has already claimed two International Challenge titles, while finishing runner-up once at a Super 100 and once at an International Challenge.

He also reached a semifinal at an International Series event and added six more quarterfinal finishes across Super 100 and International Challenge tournaments.

First Steps in the World Tour for Muhamad Yusuf

However, Yusuf’s next challenge will be at a higher level. He has already begun testing himself on the BWF World Tour, appearing twice in 2026.

He advanced to the round of 32 at the Thailand Masters 2026, a Super 300 tournament, and repeated his performance at the Indonesia Masters, a Super 500 tournament.

While those runs were brief in comparison to his lower-tier performances, they served as important learning experiences against more powerful opponents.

This consistency has translated into a dramatic rise in the world rankings. In July 2025, Yusuf was unranked in BWF rankings. Just a month later, he was rank 529, and now, in March 2026, he is among the world’s top 50.

His latest results at the Ruichang China Masters 2026, beating the Taiwanese Cheng-Han Tsai 21-8 and 21-11, helped continue his upward trajectory.

Jason Teh claimed victory after taking both sets 21-14. The game was one-sided from the first point itself Lee Zii Jia entered the tournament looking to improve on his performance, however he failed to find his game in the crucial moments.

Jason Teh stayed consistent throughout the match and never gave Lee Zii Jia a chance.

Professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia crashed out in the first round of the Swiss Open on Wednesday (March 11).

Zii Jia struggled to find his rhythm against Jason Teh of Singapore before going down 14-21, 14-21 at St Jakobshalle in Basel.

It is learnt that he could be… pic.twitter.com/xzbl8LuaL5

— The Star (@staronline) March 12, 2026

But the bigger concern was not just the loss, but there were also reports that Lee was dealing with ankle pain during the match.

Lee Zii Jia never looked comfortable during the match because His usual rhythm was missing, and Jason Teh did not have to work too hard to win both games.

For Lee, the result was worrying because he had already pulled out of the All England Open a few weeks earlier. That now makes two tournaments and two early exits.

It is starting to feel like a pattern. If the ankle problem is serious, it could explain a lot. In singles badminton, movement is very important, and without good movement, even the best racket skills become less effective.

But until there is clear news about the injury, it is hard to know if Lee is out of form or not fully fit.

Lee Zii Jia’s Ankle Concern Casts a Cloud Over Malaysia’s Swiss Open Campaign

Not everything went badly for Malaysia on Wednesday. Justin Hoh kept Malaysia’s hopes alive at the Swiss Open with a hard win against France’s Arnaud Merkle. The match was difficult, and Hoh lost the first game 20–22.

But he did not give up. He came back strongly and won the next two games 21–16 and 21–17 to move into the second round.

It was not an easy win. After losing the first close game, Hoh stayed calm and focused. He kept fighting and finally found a way to win. His strong mindset helped him a lot, especially on a day when his more famous teammate could not perform at his best.

Malaysia left Basel on Wednesday with mixed feelings. Lee Zii Jia’s Swiss Open journey ended early, but Justin Hoh’s run is just beginning.

Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana came to Switzerland as the third seeds. But they could not reach the quarterfinals as they lost to unseeded Malaysians Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai 21–12, 21–23, 21–16 in a 53-minute match.

The loss stings because of what came immediately before it. Leo and Bagas had just won the Thailand Masters title. The victory felt like a fresh start and a sign that the pair had found their form again. But the tournament in Basel quickly showed that they still have problems to fix.

Kekalahan ini sepertinya jadi match point untuk Leo/Bagas dipecah.

Setelah gagal di All England, ada harapan untuk menutupnya dengan sukses di Swiss. Namun nyatanya mereka tak bisa masuk perempat final.

Dengan kualitas individu yang mereka miliki, hasil buruk dalam sekitar 10… https://t.co/DKKySQnWa5

— Putra Tegar (@putrategar2709) March 12, 2026

Indonesian badminton journalist Putra Tegar looked at the loss in detail, and no one was satisfied. After they were disappointed at the All England, the Swiss tournament was a chance for them to finish a difficult period with a good result. But that did not happen for them.

He said the pair has struggled with poor results for about 10 months, which has affected their confidence, but according to him, their win in Thailand last week was not enough to fully rebuild their understanding and teamwork as a pair.

Badminton Fans Didn’t Hold Back After Basel Exit

The frustration of fans isn’t just noise, but there’s a pattern behind it.

“Nothing’s right about the two. Wasted,” wrote one fan on X. The comment cut to what many supporters have been feeling for months, that two players with genuine individual quality are consistently falling short of what that quality should produce together.

Another fan zeroed in on Bagas specifically as “Bagas is stuck. Got a smash that’s total garbage, but on the field it’s useless anyway.”

The frustration wasn’t limited to performance. Some fans questioned where the pair’s ambitions now sit. “What level do these two want to go down to? IC IS level? That’s embarrassing,” wrote one commenter, a pointed reference to lower-tier domestic competition.

The sharpest reaction came from those questioning the partnership’s future altogether. “Leo, if you’re sick of Bagas, just say so. Go back to Daniel already,”

one fan wrote a direct call for Leo to reunite with former partner Daniel. Putra Tegar echoed a similar sentiment, describing the Swiss defeat as what looks like the match point for a split.

The conversation has shifted. It is no longer about whether Leo and Bagas can rediscover form. It is about whether the partnership has a future at all.

Is it time for Leo and Bagas to go their separate ways? Let us know in the comments!

Kiran George defeated the former world champion Loh Kean Yew in the opening round. The victory shows how good the country’s badminton is and highlights the depth and talent on the international stage.

Recently, India’s star Lakshya Sen also grabbed the spotlight after reaching the All England Open 2026 final. 

Kiran George, who is currently ranked 42, has defeated ranked 11, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the Round of 32. It was a close encounter that lasted 41 minutes.

George won two straight games. In Game 1, George saved two game points before edging Loh 23–21. Loh Kean Yew tried to control rallies with his pace, but George stayed composed in long exchanges.

He was in a position to win the game easily when he found himself with a lead of 201-16. But a late fightback from Loh Kean Yew narrowed the gap. Eventually, George won the 2nd set by 21-19. The victory marked one of the biggest wins of George’s career, defeating a former world champion.

Kiran George Advances to Round of 16 After Stunning First-Round Upset

With this win over Loh, Kiran George is now in the Round of 16 of the Swiss Open Badminton Championship 2026. He will now lock horns with Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan in the next round.

Jason has already knocked former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth out in the opening round. Srikanth, after winning the first game by 21-15, lost the plot and saw a 12-21 defeat in the 2nd game. As per the reports, Srikanth has to walk away/retire due to injury issues. 

So, a tough task ahead for Kiran George when he faces Jason Gunawan. However, India still has reasons to celebrate after George’s thumping win in the first round. With momentum on his side and increasing self-confidence, the young shuttler could perform well in the future.

Till now, India has had mixed results at the Swiss Open overall. George’s victory was the high point, but Ayush Shetty was among the other players who had to leave early. Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda were also eliminated in the first round of the women’s singles competition.

On Thursday, Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi finally defeated the Korean champ Kim Min Sun by 21-17, 21-15 in just 45 minutes in the Round of 16 at the Ruichang China Masters 2026, booking a quarterfinal spot in the process.

Badminton Indonesia shared the moment on X, writing, “After 7 failed meetings, this time Dhinda successfully claimed her first victory over Kim Min Sun,” the federation posted. “Dhinda is on fire.”

Setelah 7 kali pertemuan gagal, kali ini Dhinda berhasil ambil kemenangan perdana atas Kim Min Sun dan berhak atas tiket ke babak perempat final.

Menyala Dhinda #BadmintonIndonesia#RuichangChinaMasters2026 pic.twitter.com/1INqca8EJb

— BADMINTON INDONESIA (@INABadminton) March 12, 2026

The rivalry between the two goes back to December 2022. At that time, Kim defeated a teenage Dhinda at the TOYOTA Gazoo Racing Badminton Asia U17 Championships.

After that, Kim kept winning whenever they met in junior events, senior tournaments, and team competitions. Kim always found a way through.

Their two most recent matches followed the same pattern. At the Allianz Malaysia Super 100 in October 2025, Kim won the match in three games, losing only one game.

A few days later, at the WONDR by BNI Indonesia Masters II in October 2025, Kim won again. Dhinda had some good moments, but they were not enough to change the result.

Thursday was different from the very first point. The 21-17, 21-15 scoreline wasn’t a scrape or a lucky escape. It was control. Dhinda moved through the match without ever looking like she needed a third game, and walked away with a quarterfinal berth to show for it.

The Rivalry Stat That Makes Dhinda’s Ruichang Win Even Bigger

The numbers put this result in full perspective. Across all eight meetings, Kim’s career record against Dhinda now stands at seven wins to one.

Every previous win for the Korean came in straight or three-game fights where Dhinda rarely looked comfortable. For once, Dhinda controlled the tempo. Kim had no answers.

For an Indonesian shuttler carrying 301 ranking points into this week, beating a persistent rival in the manner she did sends a message to the rest of the Ruichang China Masters 2026 draw.

Dhinda is all in, and she is playing like someone who has been waiting a long time to feel this good.

Can Dhinda go all the way and win the Ruichang China Masters 2026? Let us know in the comments!

The Institut Sukan Negara posted a heartfelt message of support to Chia. “Behind every performance on court is a team working tirelessly behind the scenes,” the message read.

Chia responded with, “Always ”

The Institut Sukan Negara plays a key role in preparing the athletes for major competitions. The institute’s specialists help with everything from injury prevention to performance enhancement.

And it’s not the first time he’s done so. Back in July 2025, he made a similar post after winning some silverware. “Learned and moved on for the next. Thanks to everyone who supporting us all the time Coaches and support staff Together as ONE ”

This time, however, things didn’t go their way. After winning the first set, the duo faltered against South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae in a gruelling 63-minute final. With this loss, it became the third straight time they have lost the tournament.

Their coach, Herry Iman Pierngadi, tried to console them when he said, “They are still unlucky in the All-England. They played well despite the defeat.”

But despite this loss, Aaron Chia remains determined.

Aaron Chia Says It’s Not Their Time Yet

Talking about the loss, Chia said, “Of course, losing again is painful, but we have learnt a lot. We missed out on winning our first Super 1000 title, but maybe it’s just not our time yet. There are still plenty of opportunities ahead. Wooi Yik and I still did well. We reached the final and lost to the best pair out there. There’s still more for us to learn.”

And there’s plenty of time to follow up on that. While they may have lost their “Wimbledon”, Chia has another shot at victory in just a few days.

Next month, the pair will go to China to defend their title at the Asian Championships. Last year, they won the championship in straight sets after defeating Chinese stars Chen Boyang and Liu Yi.

Do you think they can do so this year? Let us know in the comments!

Read more at the Ace Badminton Community!

Trending slideshow: Best Badminton Tournaments to Watch in 2026

Soureesh Datta

But the story of his campaign has been anything but a disappointment. The 24-year-old reaching the final shows his resilience and has captured the attention of fans across the globe.

He received a powerful appreciation from the Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra. Reacting to Bindra’s post, Sen wrote,

“Thank you so much for your kind words and constant encouragement, sir. Your guidance and perspective have always meant a lot to me. Truly grateful for your support, and a big thanks for always being there.”

Lakshya Sen acknowledged Bindra’s words, expressing gratitude for the encouragement. The badminton star said such words motivate him to keep pushing forward despite setbacks.

Bindra was very impressed with the way Lakshya Sen played with courage and belief. On his official X account, he wrote,

“Not every inspiring sporting story ends with a trophy. Over the last few days, Lakshya Sen has shown India what courage, resilience, and belief truly look like.

Abhinav Bindra Applauds Lakshya Sen’s Fighting Spirit After All England Run

Bindra also praised the 24-year-old for reaching the 2nd final of the All England Championship. “His run to another All England final, through extraordinary wins and immense physical pain, has been about far more than a result,” Bindra added.

But Sen’s journey to the final was nothing short of admiration. Encouraging Sen’s efforts, India’s Olympic gold medalist rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra said that a trophy is not the only way to tell an inspiring sporting story. 

Abhinav Bindra further praised Sen’s honesty in effort, his dignity, and his self-belief. Continuing his message, Bindra wrote,

“He has reminded young India that greatness lies not only in winning, but in the honesty of effort, the dignity of the fight, and the strength to keep believing. I am Proud of you, @lakshya_sen. Very, very proud.”

Lakshya Sen lost the final of the All England Open Championship 2026 by 21-15, 22-20 on March 08, 2026. That means India has to wait a bit more for the prestigious All England title.

The loss in Birmingham may have been painful for Sen, but the recognition of his fighting spirit suggests his campaign will be remembered as much for its inspiration as its results.

At just 24, Sen has already reached the All England final twice, underlining his place among the leading figures of Indian badminton.

The next big assignment for Lakshya Sen could be the Badminton Asia Championships 2026. It will happen in April 2026 and is considered one of Asia’s biggest championships. Let’s see if Sen will take part in the tournament or not.

The French shuttler has shut down any talk of stepping away from doubles, and his reasoning goes deeper than most people might expect.

“Right now it’s off the table,” he said “We have a serious project in doubles, as we have always had. After becoming European champions, I think it made it even more serious.”

And for a player who just delivered the best six months of his career in singles, choosing to double down on doubles rather than protect his energy says everything about where his head is at right now.

That’s a strong statement from someone whose singles career is simultaneously at its peak.

Christo’s 2025 season was one to remember. It began with a runner-up finish at the Swiss Open in February, a result that set a good start for the year.

In April, he won a bronze medal in men’s singles at the European Championships. At the same event, he and his brother Toma also won the men’s doubles title together.

He later had a strong run at the French Open in October. Then, in December, he finished the year in the best way by winning the BWF World Tour Finals title.

For Christo, the most important thing was his consistency.
“Playing well for almost six months and staying at a high level was the best half-year of my young career,” he said.

Through all of it, doubles never got sidelined.

The Real Reason Christo Popov Won’t Give Up Doubles

If you take away the titles and rankings, there is a simple reason behind this partnership. They enjoy playing together.

“For me, and I think for my brother too, doubles is a way for us to enjoy ourselves during tournaments,” Christo said. At the top level of badminton, that feeling is important. Playing singles can be very demanding mentally, and Christo admits he sometimes needs a break from that pressure.

“Sometimes it can be hard mentally to stay at a very high level all the time,” he said. “Playing doubles helps with that.”

In April 2025, the brothers won the European doubles title together. At the same time, Christo’s singles career is still growing.

For them, the partnership is about competition, family, and enjoying the game. One thing seems clear: stopping is not something they are thinking about.

Do you think the Popov brothers can become a strong doubles pair while still playing singles?