Lakshya Sen's Valiant Fight Ends in Kumamoto Masters Semifinals
India's hopes at the Kumamoto Japan Masters Super 500 tournament were dashed on Saturday as Lakshya Sen suffered a hard-fought defeat against Japan's Kenta Nishimoto in the semifinals. The world number 15 put up a spirited fight but ultimately fell to the local favourite in a gripping three-game battle that lasted 77 minutes.
Nishimoto Edges Tight Contest
The match between these two closely-ranked shuttlers lived up to its billing as a contest of fine margins. Nishimoto eventually prevailed with a scoreline of 21-19, 14-21, 21-12. Despite entering the match with a 3-2 head-to-head advantage, Lakshya had lost their most recent encounter at the Indonesia Masters earlier this year, and the Japanese player continued that momentum in front of his home crowd.
The opening game set the tone for the match, with both players trading blows in extended rallies. Lakshya started strongly, building an 8-4 lead, but Nishimoto responded with seven consecutive points to seize control. The Indian shuttler fought back to level at 18-18, but two crucial errors at the net eventually cost him the first game.
Momentum Shifts in Decisive Third Game
Lakshya demonstrated his resilience in the second game, recovering from an early 1-5 deficit to dominate proceedings. His tactical shift to slower rallies paid dividends as he won eight of the last nine points to take the game 21-14 and force a decider.
However, the match took a dramatic turn early in the third game when Lakshya appeared to suffer an injury. While attempting a defensive reflex dive, the Indian slipped on his front leg at the net. Although he managed to continue playing after brief treatment, the momentum had clearly shifted towards his opponent.
Nishimoto capitalized on the situation, racing to a 9-5 lead at the interval. The break saw Lakshya's coach, Yoo Yong Sun, vigorously massaging his ward's left thigh, suggesting potential fitness concerns. Upon resumption, the Japanese player maintained his aggressive approach, stretching his lead to 14-7 with powerful smashes and celebrating each point with visible emotion.
World Tour Finals Hopes Dashed
This defeat carries significant consequences for Lakshya Sen's season ambitions. According to ranking trackers, the loss effectively ends his outside chance of qualifying for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals, where only the top eight shuttlers from each discipline compete.
The 2021 World Championship bronze medallist had shown remarkable late-season form, reaching the final at the Hong Kong Open and the semifinals at the Macau Open. However, his struggle with first and second-round exits in the first half of the year, which he attributed to niggling injuries, ultimately proved too big a hurdle to overcome in the race for World Tour Finals qualification.
Despite the disappointment, Lakshya's recent performances indicate a positive trajectory as he looks to build momentum for the upcoming season. His ability to compete at the highest level against top-ranked opponents remains unquestioned, and Indian badminton fans will be hoping for a strong comeback in the tournaments ahead.
