4 min readUpdated: May 1, 2026 04:36 PM IST
Lakshya Sen pulled off a dramatic comeback from being match point down, as he gave India a 1-0 lead in the Thomas Cup quarterfinals, defeating Chou Tien Chen 18-21, 22-20, 21-17.
Satwik-Chirag also overcame a 18-20 deficit to take opening set 23-21, against Olympic champ Wong Chi Lin and Chiu Cheh.
Sen led the opener 15-12, and the 18-17 even, before Tien Chen’s used his shuttle control on drops to leap over the Indian and take 5 straight points as the Taiwanese took the opener 21-18. Sen’s errors at the net saw him fumble to finish.
Sen seemed down and out in the second at 9-14 down, hos smashes going wide. Things got heated for him when after the highest of control dribbles, his net tap saw the racquet hang onto the other side, and cop a net fault. He wasn’t very happy. Earlier, Sen had started his upclimb at 10-14 with a Beckham-like curler, a clear played from next to the sideline, which properly drifted out and then swerved right back, to land in.
However that net fault called on him, nicely infuriated him. Sen did not shy away from playing those tight, taut dribble exchanges at the net – just sought to execute them accurately. Still, Tien Chen, a cancer survivor aged 36, and consistent World No 6, exhibiting racquet skills that are the envy of many, reached 17-13 in the second, 4 points away from a win.
Sen epuld play three of the most tactically astute rallies next coming to within 16-17 with a gorgeous drop. The net errors would continue into the second, as the Taiwanese held two match points at 20-18. Sen however would stay patient in the rallies against one of badminton’s most proficient stroke players, retrieve with discipline, and keep working for the net eyeball dominance. His crosscourt smashes were whizzing too, though he would finish 22-20 at the net, flicking the bird over Tien Chen after yet another net skirmish.
The daflis of Indians, and mini vuvuzelas and horns of Taiwanese created one right din as the decider unfolded.
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Denied the win in straight two, Tien Chen knew the momentum had turned.
The wonder about Sen’s big smashes that got thwacking, giving him the 11-7 lead was, that earlier in the match he had landed awkwardly diving and reaching out for a flank shuttle, and the elbow had taken a shock thumping. Sen’s smashes are reliant on the elbow flex – they are forehand catapults. But it was these aggressive smashes and that explosive net stride that won him the crucial opener.
Tien Chen, never giving up, came to within 13-10, but was exhausted and picking up errors that would’ve otherwise crossed the net. The rallies, as happens in badminton, got even more intense, but Sen would pull out the smash when needed, and bring out the drops to make the Taiwanese move. Sen’s net precision was most evident as he took the 14-10 lead, executing the dribble who-blinks-first expertly. But Sen was not to be denied again, and he centered to the finish, surviving heart-stopping slow-burning rallies to prevail in the decider.
The match was won again at the net, though the masterful point came at the 20-17 juncture, through an expansive cross court smash that travelled the diagonal of the court landing plum near the opposite corner. India was jaunting ahead, 1-0 up.
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Coach Vimal Kumar said, “Brilliant Lakshya..great start. Lakshya and Chou Tien’s encounters have always been exciting. It is an important win for us.”
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