Lakshya Sen eliminated by Loh Kean Yew at Asian Games 2026 in Ichinomiya

Lakshya Sen’s individual campaign at the 2026 Asian Games ended on Saturday morning when he lost to Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew 12-21, 21-15, 14-21 at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in the men’s singles event on September 26.

Sen entered the match listed as Lakshya Sen (TOPS Core | WR-14) against Loh Kean Yew (WR-13). His career résumé cited in coverage includes a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold, a fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, and a team silver from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou; an individual Asian Games medal has so far eluded him.

Sen began the match strongly, moving to a 5-1 lead in the opening game, but Loh responded with a run of 10 consecutive points to overturn that deficit and take the first game 21-12.

After losing the opener, Sen increased his intensity in the second game, matched Loh through a tense middle phase and produced a late surge to win the set 21-15 and force a decider.

In the third game Loh established an early advantage and carried it into the change of ends; Sen produced four straight points to level at 13-14 amid a couple of uncharacteristic errors from Loh, but Loh regained control down the stretch and closed the match 21-14, with Sen finding the net on the final rally.

The match lasted about an hour and ten minutes. Coverage noted that Sen had been a member of India’s men’s team that won bronze earlier in the Games and that India’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, had been eliminated in an early round the day before.

The result ended Sen’s run in the individual event at the Asian Games and advanced Loh Kean Yew into the pre-quarterfinals after the 12-21, 21-15, 14-21 victory on September 26.