Lakshya Sen suffered a first-round exit at the Asian Games 2026, losing 12-21, 21-15, 14-21 to former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore.

India suffered another setback in badminton at the 2026 Asian Games as Lakshya Sen was knocked out in the opening round of the men’s singles competition, losing to Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew in three games.

Lakshya fought back after losing the opening game but could not complete the comeback, eventually going down 12-21, 21-15, 14-21. The result comes just a day after the shock first-round elimination of defending men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, leaving India with another disappointing result in the badminton competition.

Loh Kean Yew established control early in the contest and Lakshya struggled to find his rhythm. The Singaporean moved through the opening game with a significant advantage, forcing Lakshya to chase the score rather than dictate the rallies. Lakshya eventually fell 21-12, leaving him with a difficult task against the former world champion.

The Indian needed to find a response in the second game to prevent the match from slipping away.

The second game saw a significant change in momentum. Lakshya began playing with greater aggression and managed to put Loh under pressure. The Indian built his advantage and maintained it through the closing stages of the game. This time, Lakshya controlled the scoreboard and closed out the game 21-15, forcing a deciding third game.

The comeback offered India hope of another turnaround after the first-game setback. The contest, however, would once again swing in Loh's favour.

The Singaporean started the deciding game strongly and reached the change of ends with an 11-6 lead. Lakshya was immediately faced with a substantial deficit, but he refused to concede.

Loh extended his advantage to 14-9 after Lakshya's review did not go his way. However, the Indian suddenly found another burst of momentum. Lakshya won four consecutive points, helped by a series of unforced errors from Loh, reducing the deficit to just one point at 13-14. The momentum appeared to be shifting.

Lakshya then produced one of the points of his fightback with a jump smash down the line, bringing the score to 14-16.

Just as Lakshya appeared ready to level the game, Loh regained his composure. The Singaporean constructed three consecutive points to move ahead 19-14, restoring the pressure on the Indian. Lakshya could not produce another sustained comeback. Loh moved to match point at 20-14, giving himself six opportunities to close out the contest.

The former world champion needed only one. Lakshya attempted to return but sent the shuttle into the net, bringing the match to an end. The final score read 21-12, 15-21, 21-14 in Loh's favour.

Lakshya's elimination represents another difficult result for India's badminton campaign at the Asian Games. The defeat follows the unexpected first-round exit of Satwik and Chirag, who entered the men's doubles competition as defending champions but lost to Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun. Lakshya's loss therefore adds to a disappointing run for two of India's most prominent men's badminton players.

For Lakshya, the result is particularly frustrating because he managed to force the match into a third game after losing the opening game 12-21. His four-point burst in the decider briefly put him within one point of Loh, but the Singaporean responded effectively and regained control.

Loh Kean Yew's victory came after a contest in which both players experienced periods of control. He dominated the opening game, surrendered the second as Lakshya responded strongly, and then recovered in the decider. The Singaporean's ability to regain his composure after Lakshya's late surge proved decisive. For Lakshya, the scoreline reflects both the missed opportunity and the competitive nature of the contest. He had chances to turn the third game around, particularly after reducing the deficit to 13-14, but could not sustain the pressure.

Lakshya Sen's Asian Games 2026 campaign has therefore ended at the opening hurdle. The Indian came back from one game down and briefly threatened another comeback in the decider, but Loh Kean Yew ultimately held firm. The final score 12-21, 21-15, 14-21 sends the former world champion through while ending Lakshya's campaign.

After the exits of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Lakshya Sen, India will now look to its remaining badminton combinations and players for further progress in the competition.