Taiwan pull off shock double at All-England

Lin Chun-Yi of Taiwan celebrates after winning the singles final match against Lakshya Sen of India at the All-England. - AP

PETALING JAYA: From nowhere, Taiwan emerged as the biggest winners at the All-England, sweeping the men’s singles and mixed doubles titles.

Lin Chun-yi became his country’s first-ever All-England men’s singles champion after producing a solid performance to beat India’s Lakshya Sen 21-15, 22-20 in the final on Sunday (March 8).

The 26-year-old was not considered an early favourite but turned out to be the biggest surprise of the tournament by lifting the Super 1000 title.

Taiwan's Lin Chun-yi celebrates his victory over India's Lakshya Sen in their men's singles final at the All England Open Badminton Championships at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, central England, on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

It has been a superb year for Chun-yi so far, having also won the Super 750 Indian Open in January.

Earlier, his teammates Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Chan also made headlines when they defeated fifth seeds Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue of France 21-19, 21-18 to become Taiwan’s first mixed doubles winners at the oldest tournament.

Taiwan's Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Chan celebrate after winning the mixed doubles final match against France's Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue at the All-England. - AP

Previously, Tai Tzu-ying had carried the nation’s hopes in the competition, having won the women’s singles title three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020.