Lakshya Sen Advances to India Open Quarterfinals with Strategic Victory
Lakshya Sen displayed tactical brilliance against a tricky opponent on Thursday. He faced Japan's Kenta Nishimoto, a player renowned for his control and ability to create difficult situations. Instead of relying on raw power, the Indian shuttler chose a path of clarity and intelligence.
Patience Over Power Wins the Day
Sen utilized his excellent court coverage and defensive skills to counter Nishimoto's probing game. He smartly changed the pace of rallies, turning long exchanges into scoring opportunities. This thoughtful approach led him to a straight-games victory with scores of 21-19, 21-11 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
The scoreline, however, does not reveal the full story of the match. Lakshya struggled initially to find his rhythm in the opening game. He trailed significantly at 11-16 and then 14-18, with Nishimoto appearing firmly in control as rallies extended.
A Crucial Turning Point
The match turned when Sen opted for patience instead of panic. He began engaging Nishimoto in longer rallies, retrieving shots relentlessly. This strategy forced his Japanese opponent to play one extra shot each time, gradually wearing him down.
Lakshya reeled off five consecutive points to surge ahead. He then closed out the first game at the first available opportunity. The second game told a completely different story as the Indian shuttler pulled away steadily, sealing the match in just fifty minutes.
"I struggled with my rhythm at the start of the opening game," Lakshya admitted after the match. "I was lifting the shuttle short, which allowed him to attack more. Then I started lifting longer and focused on defending well. That change turned the first game around for me."
Mixed Day for Indian Badminton
While Lakshya's victory brought cheer, the day proved disappointing for other Indian contenders. Former World Championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth fought hard but ultimately fell to France's Christo Popov. The match ended with scores of 21-14, 17-21, 21-17 in favor of the French player.
HS Prannoy also faced elimination despite a strong resistance. He lost to eighth seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in three games. The final scores read 18-21, 21-19, 21-14.
India's challenge in women's singles ended as well. Malvika Bansod suffered a straight-games defeat to Chinese fifth seed Han Yue. The match concluded with scores of 18-21, 15-21.
The disappointment deepened for Indian fans when medal favorites Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty crashed out. The Indian pair lost a bruising second-round match to Japan's Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita. The closely contested battle ended with scores of 27-25, 21-23, 19-21.
Lakshya Sen now moves forward as one of India's remaining hopes in the tournament. His quarterfinal match will test his strategic approach against another top opponent.
