Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen kicked off his India Open Super 750 campaign with a solid victory on Tuesday. He secured a place in the second round after beating fellow Indian player Ayush Shetty in straight games.
Comfortable Win for Lakshya Sen
The match took place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Lakshya, who won a bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships, dominated from the beginning. He defeated the twenty-year-old Ayush with scores of 21-12 and 21-15.
Ayush Shetty faced a tough challenge in his first Super 750 level match. The experienced Lakshya proved too strong for the young shuttler.
Lakshya's Thoughts on Conditions
After the match, Lakshya shared his views on the playing conditions. He mentioned that he did not expect major difficulties but believes things will improve as the tournament progresses.
"I didn't expect it to be too tricky, but I think it will get better from the second round," Lakshya said.
He also talked about adapting to the new hall. Lakshya noted that the shuttle moved quicker than anticipated, with some drift or sideways movement. He emphasized the need to adjust to different situations during the first round.
Focus on the Next Match
Lakshya praised his opponent Ayush Shetty, calling him a really good player. He stated that he came prepared for the match and is taking things one step at a time.
"He's a really, really good opponent, and I had to come really prepared for the match. I'm just taking one match at a time, so I'm not thinking too wide, just focusing on the next match," Lakshya explained.
Match Analysis
In the opening game, Lakshya dominated early, especially at the net. He built a commanding 17-6 lead. Ayush tried to fight back with a few consecutive points, but Lakshya closed the game comfortably.
The second game saw more competition. Ayush started well and took an early lead. However, Lakshya soon found his rhythm. He tightened his shots and forced errors from his opponent. Lakshya pulled ahead in the later stages and sealed the match with a strong winner.
Upcoming Challenge
Lakshya Sen will now face Japan's Kenta Nishimoto in the next round. Nishimoto advanced after his compatriot Kodai Naraoka retired mid-match.
Season Planning
Lakshya also discussed his plans for the season. He highlighted the importance of maintaining a good ranking while peaking at the right time for major tournaments.
"I think we have big tournaments coming up this year, so it will be important to maintain a good ranking but also peak at the right time for the big ones," he said.
He revealed that they have skipped some tournaments to focus on practice. This strategy aims to ensure better preparation for events like the Asian Games and World Championships later in the year.
Other Indian Results
In women's doubles, the Indian pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand started their campaign positively. They defeated Thailand's Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai with scores of 21-15, 21-11. Their next opponents will be China's seventh-seeded pair Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min.
In men's doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arjun won their first-round match against Malaysia's Teo Ee Yi and Ong Yew Sin. They are set to face China's fourth seeds in the next round. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty moved into the next round after receiving a walkover.
Surprise Exits
On the opening day, men's singles fourth seed Chou Tien Chen and French sixth seed Alex Lanier were knocked out of the tournament.
