Kumamoto Masters: Lakshya Sen downs Alwi Farhan to reach 2nd straight tour final

Lakshya Sen has carried his Hylo Open-winning form into Japan, beating Indonesia's Alwi Farhan to reach a second successive BWF Tour final. The Indian now has a chance to boost his bid for the World Tour Finals.

In Short

• Eighth seed Sen prevailed 21-12, 15-21, 21-11 in 70 minutes
• Farhan forced a decider before Sen produced a commanding finish
• The victory reversed Sen's two previous straight-game defeats against Farhan

Lakshya Sen is closing in on a second successive BWF Tour title. The Indian star-shuttler produced a clutch performance to beat Indonesia's World No. 10 Alwi Farhan and reach the men's singles final of the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026 on Saturday.

The eighth seed overcame the sixth seed 21-12, 15-21, 21-11 in 70 minutes. It was Sen's first victory over Farhan, having lost both their previous meetings. This time, he found a way to counter the Indonesian's speed and took charge when the match went into a decider.

Sen set the tone in the opening game, taking the initiative in rallies and keeping Farhan on the back foot. He was particularly effective at the net, an area where he had struggled to get the better of the Indonesian in their earlier encounters. His sharper work in the frontcourt allowed him to dictate the pace and take the first game 21-12.

Farhan responded in the second, using his speed and court coverage to stretch Sen and force a decider. But the Indian did not get drawn into hurried exchanges. He picked his moments to attack, repeatedly targeted Farhan's backhand and timed his smashes well to take the final game 21-11. It was a composed finish to a match in which he had to adjust his approach after losing the second game.

WORLD TOUR FINALS RACE IN FOCUS

The victory takes Sen into his second consecutive BWF Tour final, following his title-winning run at the Hylo Open in Germany earlier this month. He beat Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21-17, 21-10 in the final on November 1, ending his wait for a BWF Tour title since the Australian Open in November 2025.

Sen's season has had contrasting phases. He reached the All England Open final in March but endured a patch of early exits and fitness concerns before finding his rhythm again towards the end of the year. His Kumamoto campaign has been particularly convincing, with straight-game wins over Chi Yu Jen, Dong Tian Yao and home favourite Yushi Tanaka preceding Saturday's semifinal.

There is more than a title at stake in Japan. Sen was 12th in the BWF World Tour Finals Race ahead of the semifinal, with a place in the top eight needed to qualify for the season-ending tournament in China. A title in Kumamoto would give his bid a significant boost.

Sen will face either second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand or Japan's Koki Watanabe in Sunday's final. A second title in as many weeks would provide a fitting reward for his late-season revival.

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