Daijiworld Media Network - Birmingham

Birmingham, Mar 3: Indian shuttlers Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty warmed up for the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships with a spirited practice match before departing for Birmingham, as global travel disruptions triggered by the West Asia conflict impacted athletes across sports.

Having safely reached England over the weekend, the focus now shifts squarely to on-court battles — beginning with a daunting first-round clash for Sen against World No. 1 and reigning world champion Shi Yuqi.

Sen may have prevailed in their unofficial practice duel, but the bigger prize would be toppling the Chinese ace, widely regarded as the most complete player on the circuit. Shi’s ability to dictate pace, unleash deceptive strokes and switch strategies mid-rally makes him a formidable opponent.

However, the Chinese star has struggled with injuries and is reportedly short on match rhythm after a recent setback. Sen, known for studying opponents meticulously, has a history of springing surprises at big events — including his victory over Jonatan Christie at the Paris Olympics.

The Indian also holds a previous win over Shi, having beaten him during the 2022 Asian Games team event — notably while battling a fever. Though India lost that tie 2-3, the win remains a confidence booster.

Sen has fond memories of Birmingham. He finished runner-up in 2022, has pushed the likes of Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen to the brink in past editions, and believes he can make another deep run at the Utilita Arena.

Coach Vimal Kumar rates the contest as evenly poised. “It’s 50-50. If Lakshya can retrieve well, avoid giving easy points early and counter-attack smartly, he can surprise Shi. He has to treat it like an All England final,” he said.

Sen recently returned from the Asian Championships where a throat infection and glute strain hampered his campaign.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Ayush Shetty prepares for his maiden All England appearance against Indonesian rival Alwi Farhan. The two have a competitive head-to-head history from their junior days, with Alwi leading 3-2. The Indonesian had denied Ayush a Junior World Championship title and often unsettles him by rushing play and applying relentless early pressure.

Ranked World No. 14, Alwi thrives on high tempo. “Ayush must stay alert, get a strong warm-up and use good length to push him to the backcourt,” Vimal advised.

Ayush, currently World No. 22, is keen to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss from match point up at the Asian team event.

There is also a possibility that Kidambi Srikanth could enter the main draw as a reserve, given tournament disruptions.

In doubles, India’s top pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty open against Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai. The duo may face Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi later and remain among the title contenders, looking settled and hungry since the Olympics.

Women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who have enjoyed strong runs at the All England before, could meet Japan’s Sayaka Hirota and Ayako Sakuramoto. To reach another semifinal, they may need to overcome formidable Chinese challengers such as Li-Luo.

With disruptions off court and formidable rivals on it, the Indian contingent faces a stern but opportunity-laden week at one of badminton’s most prestigious tournaments.