Lakshya Sen Stuns Chou Tien-chen, Advances to Hong Kong Open Final

Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen reached the men's singles final of the Hong Kong Open 2025 on Saturday, September 13, with a thrilling win over world No. 6 Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei. Lakshya defeated Chou in straight games 23-21, 22-20 to book a final clash against world No. 4 Li Shifeng of China, who defeated France's Christo Popov 21-18, 21-19 in the other semi-final.

The semi-final proved a test of nerves and endurance. In the first game, Lakshya started strongly with a 3-0 lead, but Chou, a 35-year-old veteran, stayed close, equalising at 12-12 after a run of four points. Both players exchanged long rallies, with Lakshya showing precise defence and clever shot placement, including a forehand return into a gap. Chou briefly took a 15-14 lead, but errors from the Taiwanese player allowed Lakshya to move ahead 18-15. The tension peaked at 19-19 during a 51-shot rally, which ended when Chou hit the net. Lakshya finally converted his third game point with a net cord to clinch the opener.

The second game was even more dramatic. After an evenly matched start, Lakshya fell behind 4-7 and then 13-10 as Chou unleashed powerful smashes and jump shots. Trailing 17-14, he staged a remarkable comeback, saving three game points and winning five consecutive points with a mix of smashes, drop shots, and strong defence. He sealed the match with a net-cord finish, showing composure and determination under pressure.

This victory marks Lakshya's first Super 500 final since the 2023 Canada Open. The Commonwealth Games champion also won a Super 300 title at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow in December 2024.