India’s star shuttler Lakshya Sen’s All England Open 2026 campaign ended with a loss to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi in the final at Birmingham.

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.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi