Garret Tan Stuns Lakshya Sen at BWF World Championships

Garret Tan produced the biggest victory of his young career on Wednesday, defeating former World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 in the second round of the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi.

The 18-year-old American, playing in his maiden World Championships, came from a game down to book a place in the pre-quarterfinals. Tan had originally arranged to fly out of India on Friday, but his run in the tournament means he will remain in New Delhi for at least another day.

Ranked 92nd in the world, Tan arrived with the aim of playing his best badminton rather than focusing on the stature of his opponent. He said he did not spend extensive time studying Sen before the match, preferring to approach the occasion without being distracted by who was across the court.

Tan turns debut into a major breakthrough

Sen took the opening game 21-19, but Tan responded to level the contest with a 21-19 second-game win. The deciding game went Tan’s way 21-17 as the American maintained his composure through the closing stages of a pulsating contest.

Tan said the conditions and drift played a role in his approach, with the teenager repeatedly targeting the rear court. His attacking game kept Sen uncomfortable, and Tan explained that he kept directing the shuttle to one side because of the drift.

Coach Paula Lynn said the plan was to keep Sen away from the front court, where the Indian had created pressure early in the match. Lynn noted that Sen had put Tan under pressure at the net in the first game and part of the second, and said the response was to slow the pace.

There was also a difficult moment for Tan during the match when he hit his head after going for a slide and said he felt dizzy. He said it reminded him of a similar incident in a match a couple of weeks earlier. With the points becoming tight, Lynn’s instruction was for him to reset, retain his composure and focus only on the current point.

Tan recovered to deliver his strongest work at the decisive end of the match. At 16-18, he produced a jump smash. Sen then served long, before Tan struck a cross-court smash to earn four match points. The American eventually completed the win after Sen slipped while approaching a front-court shot.

Former champion Vitidsarn awaits in pre-quarterfinal

Tan said he made a small but important adjustment late in the third game. After repeatedly hitting to one side and seeing Sen prepare for that pattern, he changed direction in the final points and said the move worked.

The result sends Tan into the pre-quarterfinals, where he will face Thailand’s former champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn. For an 18-year-old making his first appearance at the World Championships, the win over Sen has changed the immediate shape of his tournament and extended his stay in New Delhi.

Lynn praised Tan’s maturity under pressure, saying she was impressed by his ability to keep his focus and handle the occasion. Tan’s three-game win now gives the American a significant opportunity in the next round of badminton’s biggest tournament.