Garret Tan may have produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships 2026, but he did not do it alone. As the 18-year-old American battled past India’s Lakshya Sen in a dramatic contest at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, two women sitting courtside became his pillars of support, coaches Lauren Lam and Cao Hok Paula Lynn, who helped the teenager navigate the pressure, the crowd, the drift and the crucial moments that threatened to swing the match. And, perhaps fittingly, Tan's biggest win on the biggest stage came with what his coach jokingly described as a little bit of ‘lady luck’.&nbsp;“Every guy, I think, needs motherly coaching and a support, a big sister support,” Paula Lynn said after Tan’s victory. “His mom was also there, so it was that. He's obviously tough as a player, as a boy or a man, but he needs those, you know, like, the lady talk.” It was more than just a light-hearted observation. For Tan, who is playing his first World Championships at just 18, the presence of Lam, Paula Lynn and his mother offered a calming influence during a match that demanded far more than badminton skills. Lakshya, backed by a passionate home crowd, was the vastly more experienced player and carried the weight of Indian expectations. Tan, meanwhile, had to deal with the occasion, the hostile atmosphere and the peculiar conditions inside the arena.&nbsp;His coaches had prepared him for precisely that. “We've already expected that obviously it's a home advantage,” Paula Lynn explained. “We've talked about it and don't, of course, the yelling of the crowd that's cheering, just more like we prepare mentally that it's going to happen no matter what.” The message was simple: control what you can control. That meant ignoring the crowd. It meant adapting to the drift. It meant staying patient against Lakshya’s attacking game. And, above all, it meant remaining composed when the match entered its most delicate phase.&nbsp;Lam, who described Tan as her “little brother”, was particularly impressed by the teenager's temperament. “I think for me I was actually impressed,” she said. “He's like my little brother and that's why we were sitting behind him. It's really impressive that he can maintain that focus and handle that pressure.” Tan's composure became even more impressive after he appeared to hit his head while diving during the match. The teenager experienced dizziness, but instead of allowing the incident to derail him, he managed to reset and continue fighting. Lam's advice was straightforward. “I told him to just keep his composure, keep focus and just focus on the current point that's happening,” she said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-2026-sindhu-ayush-march-on-as-lakshya-unnati-bow-out-1787157947251">BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Ayush march on as Lakshya, Unnati bow out</a>&nbsp;That ability to reset may have been one of the defining characteristics of Tan's performance. The coaches were not simply offering emotional support from the stands. They were also dissecting Lakshya's tactics and feeding Tan information between points. Their approach was a combination of calming the teenager down and helping him identify tactical opportunities. One of those instructions was to keep Lakshya away from the forecourt. “We noticed Lakshya is very good at putting a lot of pressure on Garret in front,” Paula Lynn said. “That's why we wanted to keep him away from the front.”&nbsp;The American also had to contend with Lakshya's ability to neutralise his greatest weapon, his power. Tan is tall, athletic and capable of generating considerable pace, particularly with his jump smash. But Lakshya countered intelligently with angles and half-smashes rather than simply engaging in a battle of power. “His specialty is he's a power-controlled and power player,” Paula Lynn said. “If you could see when he's tall, he could jump really high, very powerful.”&nbsp;Yet Tan showed that there was more to his game than brute force. His coaches had worked with him on controlling Lakshya's attacks, understanding the drift and making tactical adjustments depending on which side of the court he was on. And behind that tactical preparation is a relationship that stretches back years. Paula Lynn has coached Tan since he was a little boy. She has watched him grow not only physically, he is already remarkably tall and athletic for his age, but mentally. “He's always curious. ‘Coach, how will I do well on this? What should I work on? Do I do this?’” she said.&nbsp;That curiosity, according to his coach, has gradually developed into one of Tan's biggest strengths: his willingness to listen. For Paula Lynn, the best quality a young player can possess is not necessarily a particular shot or physical attribute. “It’s more of like, as a player, you should be coachable,” she said. “You should be coachable because different coaches can give different opinions and even advice from different players.”&nbsp;Tan, she believes, has embraced that philosophy. He trains in Southern California and also spends time training in Taiwan, giving him exposure to different environments as he continues his rapid development. And while his ranking is still climbing, the dream is already clear, for Tan to eventually share the biggest tournaments with the very coaches who have helped guide him there. “Right now he's still climbing in the rankings,” Lam said. “But hopefully we'll be playing the same tournaments soon.”&nbsp;For now, though, Tan has already announced himself on one of badminton's biggest stages. He walked into the World Championships as an 18-year-old playing his first edition of the tournament. He walked out having beaten a former World Championships medallist on home soil, with thousands of Indian fans roaring against him. And behind him, throughout the battle, were two coaches offering tactical instructions, calming words and the kind of support that goes beyond badminton.&nbsp;Maybe there was some Lady Luck involved. But the bigger story is that Garret Tan had a team around him that made sure he was ready to seize the moment.

Garret Tan stunned Lakshya Sen at the BWF World Championships 2026, with coaches Lauren Lam and Paula Lynn playing a key role in the 18-year-old’s giant-killing win

Garret Tan may have produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships 2026, but he did not do it alone. As the 18-year-old American battled past India’s Lakshya Sen in a dramatic contest at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, two women sitting courtside became his pillars of support, coaches Lauren Lam and Cao Hok Paula Lynn, who helped the teenager navigate the pressure, the crowd, the drift and the crucial moments that threatened to swing the match. And, perhaps fittingly, Tan's biggest win on the biggest stage came with what his coach jokingly described as a little bit of ‘lady luck’. “Every guy, I think, needs motherly coaching and a support, a big sister support,” Paula Lynn said after Tan’s victory. “His mom was also there, so it was that. He's obviously tough as a player, as a boy or a man, but he needs those, you know, like, the lady talk.” It was more than just a light-hearted observation. For Tan, who is playing his first World Championships at just 18, the presence of Lam, Paula Lynn and his mother offered a calming influence during a match that demanded far more than badminton skills. Lakshya, backed by a passionate home crowd, was the vastly more experienced player and carried the weight of Indian expectations. Tan, meanwhile, had to deal with the occasion, the hostile atmosphere and the peculiar conditions inside the arena. His coaches had prepared him for precisely that. “We've already expected that obviously it's a home advantage,” Paula Lynn explained. “We've talked about it and don't, of course, the yelling of the crowd that's cheering, just more like we prepare mentally that it's going to happen no matter what.” The message was simple: control what you can control. That meant ignoring the crowd. It meant adapting to the drift. It meant staying patient against Lakshya’s attacking game. And, above all, it meant remaining composed when the match entered its most delicate phase. Lam, who described Tan as her “little brother”, was particularly impressed by the teenager's temperament. “I think for me I was actually impressed,” she said. “He's like my little brother and that's why we were sitting behind him. It's really impressive that he can maintain that focus and handle that pressure.” Tan's composure became even more impressive after he appeared to hit his head while diving during the match. The teenager experienced dizziness, but instead of allowing the incident to derail him, he managed to reset and continue fighting. Lam's advice was straightforward. “I told him to just keep his composure, keep focus and just focus on the current point that's happening,” she said. Also Read: BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Ayush march on as Lakshya, Unnati bow out That ability to reset may have been one of the defining characteristics of Tan's performance. The coaches were not simply offering emotional support from the stands. They were also dissecting Lakshya's tactics and feeding Tan information between points. Their approach was a combination of calming the teenager down and helping him identify tactical opportunities. One of those instructions was to keep Lakshya away from the forecourt. “We noticed Lakshya is very good at putting a lot of pressure on Garret in front,” Paula Lynn said. “That's why we wanted to keep him away from the front.” The American also had to contend with Lakshya's ability to neutralise his greatest weapon, his power. Tan is tall, athletic and capable of generating considerable pace, particularly with his jump smash. But Lakshya countered intelligently with angles and half-smashes rather than simply engaging in a battle of power. “His specialty is he's a power-controlled and power player,” Paula Lynn said. “If you could see when he's tall, he could jump really high, very powerful.” Yet Tan showed that there was more to his game than brute force. His coaches had worked with him on controlling Lakshya's attacks, understanding the drift and making tactical adjustments depending on which side of the court he was on. And behind that tactical preparation is a relationship that stretches back years. Paula Lynn has coached Tan since he was a little boy. She has watched him grow not only physically, he is already remarkably tall and athletic for his age, but mentally. “He's always curious. ‘Coach, how will I do well on this? What should I work on? Do I do this?’” she said. That curiosity, according to his coach, has gradually developed into one of Tan's biggest strengths: his willingness to listen. For Paula Lynn, the best quality a young player can possess is not necessarily a particular shot or physical attribute. “It’s more of like, as a player, you should be coachable,” she said. “You should be coachable because different coaches can give different opinions and even advice from different players.” Tan, she believes, has embraced that philosophy. He trains in Southern California and also spends time training in Taiwan, giving him exposure to different environments as he continues his rapid development. And while his ranking is still climbing, the dream is already clear, for Tan to eventually share the biggest tournaments with the very coaches who have helped guide him there. “Right now he's still climbing in the rankings,” Lam said. “But hopefully we'll be playing the same tournaments soon.” For now, though, Tan has already announced himself on one of badminton's biggest stages. He walked into the World Championships as an 18-year-old playing his first edition of the tournament. He walked out having beaten a former World Championships medallist on home soil, with thousands of Indian fans roaring against him. And behind him, throughout the battle, were two coaches offering tactical instructions, calming words and the kind of support that goes beyond badminton. Maybe there was some Lady Luck involved. But the bigger story is that Garret Tan had a team around him that made sure he was ready to seize the moment.

Garret Tan stunned Lakshya Sen at the BWF World Championships, with coaches Lauren Lam and Paula Lynn providing the support behind his giant-killing win

‘Every guy needs motherly coaching’: The lady luck behind Garret Tan’s stunning Lakshya Sen upset

India's top women's doubles pair, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, continued their impressive run at the BWF World Badminton Championships 2026, stunning 16th seeds Allison Lee and Lauren Lam on the second day of the tournament at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. In singles, 2021 bronze medallist Lakshya Sen and debutant Unnati Hooda also secured their places in the second round with contrasting victories.&nbsp;World no. 39 Gayatri and Treesa produced another composed performance to defeat the American combination of Lee and Lam 21-15, 21-12 in 39 minutes and book their place in the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian duo combined their strengths brilliantly throughout the contest. Gayatri dominated proceedings at the net, while Treesa impressed with a combination of delicate drops and powerful smashes that repeatedly troubled the Americans.&nbsp;After a closely contested opening phase, the home pair pulled away by winning four consecutive points to establish a 6-2 advantage. They maintained control for the remainder of the game and took the opening set. Gayatri and Treesa continued their dominance in the second game. From 5-4, they rattled off seven points in a row to move 12-4 ahead. Although Lee and Lam produced a few impressive rallies, they were unable to mount a serious comeback as the Indians completed a convincing straight-game victory.<h2>Unnati Hooda sets up Michelle Li clash</h2>In the women's singles, Unnati Hooda had to fight hard before overcoming Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar 22-20, 21-16. The Indian found it difficult to adapt to the conditions and was trailing 13-16 in the opening game. She responded strongly when it mattered most, edging the game 22-20 before taking control of the second to seal her progress. Unnati will next face 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. Li also had to work hard in the opening game before defeating Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-Chian 22-20, 21-12.<h2>Lakshya Sen makes winning comeback</h2>Fourteenth seed Lakshya Sen also advanced, overcoming Austria's Collins Filimon 16-21, 21-8, 21-4. Sen struggled to find his rhythm in the opening game as Filimon, using his height effectively, dictated rallies and relied on his powerful smashes. The Indian was also tentative with his lifts while playing from the more difficult side of the court.&nbsp;The match changed dramatically in the second game. Once Sen settled into the conditions, he produced a superb spell, winning 11 consecutive points from 10-8 to level the contest. Sen carried that momentum into the decider, racing to an 11-1 lead before closing out the match with controlled aggression. "I was a bit tentative in the first game because I was playing from the difficult side and was struggling to get used to the conditions. But in the second game, I knew that I will be playing from the better side and once I found the range of my shots it was quite easy," said Sen, who will now face Garret Tan of USA in the second round.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-fastest-100-sixes-record-india-vs-sri-lanka-galle-test-1787064435852">Galle Test, Day 4: Rishabh Pant's sixes milestone and Suthar's magic put India on brink of victory</a><h2>Popov crashes out, Okuhara and Chen Yufei advance</h2>Elsewhere, fifth seed Christo Popov of France suffered a second-round setback after Japan's Kenta Nishimoto defeated him 21-17, 21-19 in the men's singles. Former world champion Nozomi Okuhara produced a comeback victory in the women's singles, recovering from a game down to beat Turkey's Ozge Bayrak 18-21, 21-16, 21-9. Fourth seed Chen Yufei of China also progressed after overcoming a slow start against Hong Kong's Lo Sin Yan Happy. Chen eventually prevailed 18-21, 21-8, 21-11.<h2>Heartbreak for Ashith Surya-Amrutha Pramuthesh</h2>India's mixed doubles pair Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh endured a heartbreaking exit on their World Championships debut. The Indian combination squandered nine match points across the second and third games before losing a marathon contest to Turkey's Emre Sonmez and Yasemen Bektas 16-21, 30-29, 24-22. Despite the disappointment, Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda ensured a strong day for the Indian contingent at the home World Championships, with all three advancing to the next stage of their respective events.<h2>Important results:</h2>Men's Singles: 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) bt Collins Filimon (AUT) 16-21, 21-8, 21-4; Kenta Nishimoto (JPN) bt 5-Christo Popov (FRA) 21-17, 21-19; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Matthias Kicklitz (GER) 21-15, 21-14Women's Singles: Unnati Hood (IND) bt Thet Htar Thuzar (MYA) 22-20, 21-16; 4-Chen Yufei (CHN) bt Lo Sin Yan Happy (HKG) 18-21, 21-8, 21-11; 11-Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) bt Ozge Bayrak (TUR) 18-21, 21-16, 21-9Men's Doubles: 4-Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) bt Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (THA) 15-21, 21-11, 21-18Women's Doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand (IND) bt Lauren Lam/Allison Lee (USA) 21-15, 21-12; Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (BUL) bt Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi (IND) 21-7, 21-14Mixed Doubles: Jonathan Lai/Crystal Lai (CAN) bt Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde (IND) 20-22, 21-19, 21-17, Emre Sonmez/Yasemen Bektas (TUR) bt Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh (IND) 16-21, 30-29, 24-22

Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly upset 16th seeds at the BWF World Championships as Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda advance

India's top women's doubles pair, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, continued their impressive run at the BWF World Badminton Championships 2026, stunning 16th seeds Allison Lee and Lauren Lam on the second day of the tournament at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. In singles, 2021 bronze medallist Lakshya Sen and debutant Unnati Hooda also secured their places in the second round with contrasting victories. World no. 39 Gayatri and Treesa produced another composed performance to defeat the American combination of Lee and Lam 21-15, 21-12 in 39 minutes and book their place in the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian duo combined their strengths brilliantly throughout the contest. Gayatri dominated proceedings at the net, while Treesa impressed with a combination of delicate drops and powerful smashes that repeatedly troubled the Americans. After a closely contested opening phase, the home pair pulled away by winning four consecutive points to establish a 6-2 advantage. They maintained control for the remainder of the game and took the opening set. Gayatri and Treesa continued their dominance in the second game. From 5-4, they rattled off seven points in a row to move 12-4 ahead. Although Lee and Lam produced a few impressive rallies, they were unable to mount a serious comeback as the Indians completed a convincing straight-game victory. Unnati Hooda sets up Michelle Li clash In the women's singles, Unnati Hooda had to fight hard before overcoming Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar 22-20, 21-16. The Indian found it difficult to adapt to the conditions and was trailing 13-16 in the opening game. She responded strongly when it mattered most, edging the game 22-20 before taking control of the second to seal her progress. Unnati will next face 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. Li also had to work hard in the opening game before defeating Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-Chian 22-20, 21-12. Lakshya Sen makes winning comeback Fourteenth seed Lakshya Sen also advanced, overcoming Austria's Collins Filimon 16-21, 21-8, 21-4. Sen struggled to find his rhythm in the opening game as Filimon, using his height effectively, dictated rallies and relied on his powerful smashes. The Indian was also tentative with his lifts while playing from the more difficult side of the court. The match changed dramatically in the second game. Once Sen settled into the conditions, he produced a superb spell, winning 11 consecutive points from 10-8 to level the contest. Sen carried that momentum into the decider, racing to an 11-1 lead before closing out the match with controlled aggression. "I was a bit tentative in the first game because I was playing from the difficult side and was struggling to get used to the conditions. But in the second game, I knew that I will be playing from the better side and once I found the range of my shots it was quite easy," said Sen, who will now face Garret Tan of USA in the second round. Also Read: Galle Test, Day 4: Rishabh Pant's sixes milestone and Suthar's magic put India on brink of victory Popov crashes out, Okuhara and Chen Yufei advance Elsewhere, fifth seed Christo Popov of France suffered a second-round setback after Japan's Kenta Nishimoto defeated him 21-17, 21-19 in the men's singles. Former world champion Nozomi Okuhara produced a comeback victory in the women's singles, recovering from a game down to beat Turkey's Ozge Bayrak 18-21, 21-16, 21-9. Fourth seed Chen Yufei of China also progressed after overcoming a slow start against Hong Kong's Lo Sin Yan Happy. Chen eventually prevailed 18-21, 21-8, 21-11. Heartbreak for Ashith Surya-Amrutha Pramuthesh India's mixed doubles pair Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh endured a heartbreaking exit on their World Championships debut. The Indian combination squandered nine match points across the second and third games before losing a marathon contest to Turkey's Emre Sonmez and Yasemen Bektas 16-21, 30-29, 24-22. Despite the disappointment, Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda ensured a strong day for the Indian contingent at the home World Championships, with all three advancing to the next stage of their respective events. Important results: Men's Singles: 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) bt Collins Filimon (AUT) 16-21, 21-8, 21-4; Kenta Nishimoto (JPN) bt 5-Christo Popov (FRA) 21-17, 21-19; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Matthias Kicklitz (GER) 21-15, 21-14 Women's Singles: Unnati Hood (IND) bt Thet Htar Thuzar (MYA) 22-20, 21-16; 4-Chen Yufei (CHN) bt Lo Sin Yan Happy (HKG) 18-21, 21-8, 21-11; 11-Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) bt Ozge Bayrak (TUR) 18-21, 21-16, 21-9 Men's Doubles: 4-Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) bt Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (THA) 15-21, 21-11, 21-18 Women's Doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand (IND) bt Lauren Lam/Allison Lee (USA) 21-15, 21-12; Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (BUL) bt Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi (IND) 21-7, 21-14 Mixed Doubles: Jonathan Lai/Crystal Lai (CAN) bt Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde (IND) 20-22, 21-19, 21-17, Emre Sonmez/Yasemen Bektas (TUR) bt Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh (IND) 16-21, 30-29, 24-22

Gayatri-Treesa duo stun 16th seeds at the ongoing BWF World Championships 2026, while Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda advance to the singles second round

BWF World Championships 2026: Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda shine

Indian Badminton star Lakshya Sen has reached the last-eight in the Paris Olympics after beating compatriot Sat-Chi. After this win, he has become the third Indian man to reach Olympics Singles Quarter Finals.

Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshay Sen becomes third Indian man to reach Olympics Singles Quarter Finals

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‘Every guy needs motherly coaching’: The lady luck behind Garret Tan’s stunning Lakshya Sen upset

BWF World Championships 2026: Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda shine

Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshay Sen becomes third Indian man to reach Olympics Singles Quarter Finals