India’s Lakshya Sen delivered a resolute performance in the Hong Kong Open semi-final, defeating veteran Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei 23-21, 22-20 in 56 intense minutes. The match was a test of nerves: Sen started off strong, Chou clawed back in both games, and the rallies grew longer and more physically demanding. In the first game, after Chou had equalised at 12-12, Sen regained lead and held his cool in high-pressure point exchanges. The second game saw more dramatic swings  Chou surged early, Sen fought back, saved multiple game points, and sealed the win with clutch net-cord finish.

This victory marks Sen’s first entry into a Super 500 final since his win at the Canada Open in 2023. He now faces China’s Li Shifeng (world No. 4) in the final, who advanced past Christo Popov in his semi-final. Sen's mental toughness and ability to stay composed under pressure stood out today proof that he’s serious about closing in on major titles again.