Lakshya Sen Reaches Kumamoto Masters Final as BWF Prepares for World Tour Finals and Scoring Format Shift

Lakshya Sen defeated Indonesia’s world No. 10 Alwi Farhan in a three-game semi-final at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 to reach his second consecutive BWF World Tour final. The victory keeps the Indian singles player firmly in contention for a spot at the year-end BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, where teammate P.V. Sindhu has already locked in her qualification.

Sindhu’s spot in Hangzhou marks her sixth career appearance at the year-end event and her first since 2021. As the regular season winds down, Indian shuttlers are pushing across multiple disciplines to secure top-eight ranking spots before the field for China is finalized.

What is at stake at the Kumamoto Masters?

The Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026 is a Super 500 event on the world tour calendar, acting as a vital late-season battleground for ranking points. Sen’s three-game victory over Farhan follows a strong run of form, placing him one win away from a title and boosting his standing in the race to Hangzhou.

Alongside Sen, India’s primary men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty entered the tournament in Japan with the exact same goal: accumulating enough tour points to confirm their place at the World Tour Finals.

The competition in Japan has already seen major shifts in the men’s singles draw. Japan’s Koki Watanabe delivered a dramatic thriller to defeat Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who had previously been on track after booking a berth in the semi-finals. For fans following the action in India, live broadcasts and streaming coverage of the Super 500 event have tracked every stage of the Indian contingent’s push through the main draw.

How tournament purses work on the badminton circuit

Earning a ticket to Hangzhou carries immense financial weight. The BWF World Tour Finals stands as the most lucrative event on the calendar, offering a total prize pot of up to $3 million. Lower-tier flagship events on the regular circuit also carry substantial rewards, with Super 1000 tournaments distributing over $1.45 million in prize money.

That commercial payout system stands in stark contrast to the sport’s world championship event. The BWF World Championships offer zero direct cash prize money to competing athletes.

For instance, a player who wins a gold medal at the BWF World Championships earns international glory, ranking authority, and potential performance bonuses from their home government or sponsors, but receives no cash payout from the governing body itself. Conversely, qualifying for the $3 million season finale in Hangzhou guarantees athletes a direct share of official prize money simply by competing in the group stages. That reality makes late-season Super 500 tournaments like Kumamoto essential for elite players looking to maximize their season earnings.

Why is the BWF changing the 3×21 scoring system?

While shuttlers fight for current tour points, the sport is preparing for a major structural transformation. At its 87th Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, held on Saturday, April 25, the Badminton World Federation approved a shift to a new 3×15 scoring system.

The proposal passed after securing the required majority at the 87th AGM, replacing the long-standing 3×21 rally-point format. Under the 3×15 model, matches will be decided in a best-of-three format played to 15 points per game.

The change aims to shorten total match times, create predictable broadcast slots, and reduce physical burnout for athletes playing back-to-back tournaments. The compressed scoreline leaves less room for tactical recovery, meaning every early point carries immediate pressure. The focus now shifts back to the courts in Japan, where Sen, Satwiksairaj, and Chirag look to finish their Kumamoto campaigns and lock in their travel plans for Hangzhou.