Lakshya Sen's Brave Fight Ends in India Open Quarterfinal Loss
Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen delivered a spirited performance but ultimately fell short against Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in the men's singles quarterfinals of the India Open Super 750 tournament on Friday. The intense battle lasted sixty-eight minutes and concluded India's singles campaign at the prestigious event.
A High-Stakes Encounter Unfolds
The twenty-four-year-old from Almora, who clinched the Australian Open title last year, started the match with strong determination. Sen matched his opponent shot for shot during fast-paced rallies in the opening game. After keeping the scores level early on, he gradually built momentum and capitalized on Lin's forecourt errors. Sen secured the first game with a score of twenty-one to seventeen, demonstrating excellent control and precision.
The second game witnessed a significant shift in momentum. Court conditions affected shuttle control, creating difficulties for both players. Lakshya struggled with his shot length, allowing Lin to establish an early lead. Although Sen attempted a comeback with aggressive attacks on his opponent's backhand, persistent errors at the baseline proved costly. Lin claimed the second game twenty-one to thirteen, leveling the match.
The Decider Delivers Drama
Returning to his preferred side of the court, Lakshya Sen raced to a four-zero lead in the deciding third game. Lin Chun-Yi responded with powerful jump smashes to open his account. The Taiwanese player stayed within striking distance as the score reached eight-six, with a fortunate net cord briefly aiding the Indian shuttler.
Lin fought back to nine-nine with successive cross-court smashes, briefly taking the lead before Sen regained momentum. After the final change of ends, the players found themselves locked at twelve-twelve. Three consecutive errors from Lin allowed Lakshya to establish a fifteen-twelve advantage.
The Chinese Taipei player intensified his attack, drawing level again at fifteen-fifteen. When trailing eighteen-sixteen, Lakshya produced a spectacular behind-the-back shot to stay in the rally, finishing with a net shot and leveling with a body smash. Lin responded with a strong return to serve, moving within two points of victory.
Final Moments Seal the Outcome
Lin earned match points when Sen found the net with a crucial shot. The contest concluded dramatically as Lakshya slipped at the rear court during an intense rally. His weak return allowed Lin to put the shuttle away decisively, sealing the match with scores of seventeen-twenty-one, twenty-one-thirteen, and twenty-one-eighteen in favor of the world number twelve.
This defeat marks Lakshya Sen's fourth consecutive loss against the Taiwanese shuttler. After the match, Sen acknowledged that court drift affected his performance, particularly in the second game where he hit nine shots long. Despite the loss, his fighting spirit and competitive display earned respect from spectators and analysts alike.
The India Open Super 750 tournament continues without Indian representation in the singles categories following this quarterfinal exit. Lakshya Sen's performance demonstrated both his technical skills and resilience, promising exciting contests in future international badminton events.
