Lakshya Sen Battles Back Against Kalle Koljonen to Enter HYLO Open 2026 Semifinals

Lakshya Sen produced a fighting comeback to reach the men’s singles semifinals of the HYLO Open 2026, defeating Finland’s Kalle Koljonen 14-21, 21-17, 21-13 in a three-game quarterfinal at the BWF Super 500 tournament in Saarbrücken, Germany.

The Indian, currently ranked World No. 14, recovered from a disappointing opening game and gradually took control of the contest against the World No. 67. While the performance was far from straightforward, Sen showed the resilience required to negotiate a difficult opponent and move within two wins of the title.

The victory also gives the Indian shuttler an important opportunity to build confidence after a series of below-par performances in recent tournaments. His next challenge will be against France’s Toma Junior Popov, with a place in the final at stake.

The quarterfinal began with Sen struggling to find consistency. Koljonen, a 32-year-old Finnish shuttler, made the most of the Indian's errors and used his defensive ability to keep rallies alive.

Sen found it difficult to impose his attacking game, while Koljonen remained disciplined and patient. The Finnish player made the Indian work hard for points, forcing him into longer exchanges and capitalising when opportunities emerged.

The opening game reflected Sen's difficulties. A number of unforced errors prevented him from building momentum, and Koljonen moved ahead to take the game 21-14. For Sen, the priority was to improve his control and reduce the mistakes that had allowed his opponent to dictate the early stages. The Indian needed a response, particularly against a player who was showing that he could withstand sustained pressure from the higher-ranked shuttler.

Sen finds his rhythm to force a decider

The second game was a much closer contest. Sen improved his control of the rallies and began to make better decisions, although Koljonen continued to defend effectively.

The Finnish shuttler did not allow the Indian to take easy points, ensuring that Sen had to work for every opening. The contest remained competitive, with the second game proving to be a test of patience as much as attacking quality.

However, Sen gradually found greater consistency. He reduced the errors that had hurt him in the opening game and managed to keep the pressure on Koljonen. The Indian eventually secured the second game 21-17 to level the match and take the contest into a deciding game.

The shift in momentum was significant. Having struggled to find his rhythm early on, Sen had managed to turn the contest into one where his superior attacking quality could make a difference.

The deciding game saw Sen produce his strongest stretch of the match. After being made to work hard in the first two games, the Indian began to exercise greater control over the exchanges. Koljonen's defensive resistance had made the contest difficult, but Sen was now finding ways to finish rallies more effectively. The Indian maintained his intensity and did not allow the Finnish player to regain the initiative.

The difference was reflected in the final score. Sen won the decider 21-13, completing a comeback victory after dropping the opening game.

Although the match exposed areas that Sen will need to improve ahead of the semifinals, his ability to recover from a difficult start was an encouraging sign. The Indian did not produce his best badminton throughout the contest, but he found a way to win when the match demanded a response.

Sen had earlier booked his quarterfinal place with a three-game victory over fellow Indian Kiran George, winning 21-15, 18-21, 21-12. The win over Koljonen means he has now negotiated two successive three-game contests to reach the last four.

His semifinal opponent, Toma Junior Popov of France, will present another demanding challenge. Sen will need a more consistent start and better control of unforced errors if he is to progress to the final. The other men's singles semifinal will feature an all-Danish clash between Jonatan Christie and Anders Antonsen, completing a competitive last-four lineup in Saarbrücken.

India has enjoyed a particularly encouraging presence in the women's singles semifinals as well. Anmol Kharb defeated sixth seed Unnati Hooda 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 in an all-Indian quarterfinal, while two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu progressed with a convincing 21-12, 21-10 win over Denmark's Amalie Schulz.

With Sen, Kharb and Sindhu all reaching the semifinals, India has three representatives in the last four of the HYLO Open 2026.

For Lakshya Sen, reaching the semifinal is an important result, particularly after a difficult run of performances across recent tournaments. The victory over Koljonen may not have been flawless, but it demonstrated his ability to adjust during a match and recover after losing the opening game.

The next step will be to carry that improvement into the semifinal against Popov. Sen will need to avoid the slow start that put him under pressure in the quarterfinal and maintain the control he displayed in the deciding game.

A place in the final would represent another significant opportunity to regain momentum on the international circuit. With two matches separating him from the title, Sen will be looking to turn his quarterfinal fightback into a stronger finish to his HYLO Open campaign.