TEXT BY BWF – DEV SUKUMAR
In the months since the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025 where he emerged as one of the breakout stars of men’s singles, Victor Lai has shown that he’s here to stay. He made semifinals in Indonesia (Super 100) and Korea (Super 300), and won the Canadian International Challenge at the close of the year.
This season the Canadian stepped up a level, making the semifinals of the India Open (Super 750) with wins over players like Toma Junior Popov, Brian Yang and Chi Yu Jen before falling to eventual winner Lin Chun-Yi in a third game thriller.
A few days away from competing at his first YONEX All England, Lai talks about his preparations for this season, handling attention, and adopting a new mindset.
What does it mean to be playing your first All England?
I’m looking forward to the All England, just because it’s the most prestigious, right? It has the longest history. So I’m super excited. And my first time in England, just excited to play in that arena, in those courts.
You spoke about its historical significance. Do you follow a lot of badminton history?
A little bit. I was pretty young when I started watching badminton, maybe in 2012-2013. Players like Lin Dan, Chong Wei, Chen Long. I didn’t follow history that much before those guys.
It’s early in the season, but how are you approaching it? Is it a continuation of what you did last year, or is there a reset?
It’s definitely a reset, not a continuation. Because last year, at the end of the year, there was a Europe tour, and then a small Asian tour. My results were okay, decent. I had a good run at the Korea Masters (Super 300) but my goal this year was to do better at some of the bigger tournaments, because at the 300 level, I already proved that I could play well. I made it a big goal for this year to just improve as a player. I’m very happy with my performance in India. I made it into the semifinals. I was so close. Just to show the progress I’ve made this year, I’m really happy, and I hope that it’s just a start for the season that continue improving.
What are the elements of this reset?
A small thing the mental reset, like a small break. Last year, when I came to Hangzhou to receive the Eddy Choong award, that was like a break. I didn’t train, so I had four or five days of a mental reset, a bit of sightseeing and enjoyment. So I think that helped a little bit, but also just get back to training, because last year, at the end of the season was almost non-stop tournaments. So there was no time to reset the mind, reset the body, and physically build up again. Because that’s a big thing for me, physicality. I had a bit of time to do that in December and early January, before going to Malaysia and India.
Anything in terms of a change in approach? Are you ramping up aspects of your training, or are you just keeping up what did last year because it was working very well?
It’s still progression. Because we don’t have a big off-season like other sports. I think also just growing as a person and with my body growing, I’m getting older, getting a bit more mature, and putting on a bit of muscle, I think that’s helpful as well.
I would say it’s half mental, half physical.
Physicality for me is really important, because that’s where I’m lacking a bit compared to the top players. But on court, just going out there, enjoying and just doing my best, having fun with the process. I’m lucky that my ranking is top 30 now so I can play these big tournaments. So just having fun, enjoying the moment and the opportunity to play these big events.
Until the World Championships, you could probably play with a lot of freedom. But since then everything’s changed. Do you feel that sense of having more eyes on you?
Oh yeah, for sure. Especially right after the World Championships, those couple of months was tough. I’m so lucky I have great coaches and a great support team. They’ve kind of shifted my mentality not to think about that too much — just go ahead and enjoy. Of course, there are more eyes on me. People started to notice me, so I’m not as free as before the World Championships.
Viktor Axelsen often talks about pressure as a privilege. Is that your approach as well?
Pressure as privilege, it’s a pretty good quote, because it encompasses what we go through as athletes. Something that really stuck to me was in Malaysia, a lot of fans were cheering for me. So of course, I felt a bit of pressure. But looking back after the tournament, it’s also a privilege that people want to come see you, no matter if it’s just to see the tournament, or specifically me, but just to have people want to watch you, that is a privilege. So that’s a good way of thinking.
You’ve had some good results at the Super 300 level. Now it’s about the bigger ones. You’re now rubbing shoulders with the very best players. What does that entail?
I think a combination of everything. It’s a tough sport. You have mental, physical, all these things that have to combine to be a top player and yeah, I would say I’m still not at the top level yet, so I’m continuing to strive to be a better player. Of course, I’m happy with the progress so far. But the top five players are a different level. I was lucky enough to play Anders Antonsen in Malaysia, and I could feel the difference. You can see why he’s in the top three.
And any chance I get to play the top players, anyone in the top 20, top 30, it’s a good experience for me to learn, just to grow as a player. But overall, I would say it’s about playing with no fear. Just go over there and enjoy showing your level. Just play your best and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
Everyone in the top 30 is capable of beating anyone else. So just because my ranking is higher than someone does not mean I’m gonna beat them. They’re all top players for a reason. I’m just thinking about going there and proving that I deserve to win.
Mentally, how would you place yourself right now?
The All England is a big tournament of course, so there’s excitement, but also nerves too. It’s a big opportunity in a big tournament. I would say I’m a pretty good headspace right now.
