Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen showcased his skill and determination in a remarkable quarterfinal match against Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament in Bangkok. The 21-year-old shuttler from Almora secured a straight game victory of 21-19, 21-11 with a powerful jump smash.
This triumph marked Lakshya’s first entry into the semifinals this season, following a close call in the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters. Despite currently being ranked 23rd in the world, Lakshya has experienced a decline in his ranking from a career-high of six due to below-par performances earlier this season.
In the upcoming semifinals, Lakshya will face Thailand’s second seed, Kunlavut Vitidsarn on Saturday. This match serves as a significant opportunity for Lakshya to prove himself and regain momentum on the badminton circuit.
Unfortunately, Kiran George’s impressive run in the tournament came to an end with a defeat against Toma Junior Popov of France in another men’s singles match. Although George fought valiantly, he ultimately lost with a score of 16-21, 17-21.
During the quarterfinal match between Lakshya and Leong, both players exhibited tenacity and skill, pushing each other to their limits. Despite trailing 10-11 at the interval, Lakshya made a comeback and leveled the score at 17-17, eventually winning the first game as Leong showed signs of fatigue.
In the second game, Lakshya maintained control over the rallies with precise and sharp returns. He took an early lead of 11-8 and continued to pull away at 13-11. Demonstrating his dominance, Lakshya accumulated the next 11 points swiftly, securing a decisive victory.
Lakshya Sen’s impressive performance in the quarterfinals highlights his potential and determination to reclaim his position among the top-ranked badminton players. With his focus on the semifinals, Lakshya aims to continue his winning streak and make a strong comeback on the international stage.