Lakshya Sen Shines in India Open Quarterfinals
Lakshya Sen, full of confidence and energy, made it to the quarterfinals of the India Open on Thursday, bouncing back after a tough first-round exit in Malaysia last week. The 2022 champion in New Delhi is now the only Indian player remaining in the tournament after a difficult day for the rest of the Indian team.
HS Prannoy fought hard but was eliminated by eighth seed Loh Kean Yew in a thrilling three-game match. Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth also did not advance, losing to Christo Popov from France in a close contest that ended 21-14, 17-21, 21-17.
There was also disappointment for the former champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who lost a nail-biting match against the unseeded Japanese duo of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita.
Lakshya’s Victory
In a more positive turn, World No. 14 Lakshya defeated Kenta Nishimoto in straight games, breaking his two-match losing streak against the Japanese player. Lakshya expressed his contentment after the match, noting that he expected a tough match but was pleased with how he performed.
Next, he will face World No. 12 Lin Chun-Yi from Chinese Taipei, a rival he has yet to defeat, having lost to him three times last year.
Lakshya’s journey against Nishimoto was challenging at first. He fell behind in the first game but showed patience, engaging in long rallies and skillfully defending against his opponent’s powerful smashes. He managed to gain momentum, scoring five points in a row to secure the first game.
In the second game, Lakshya played more assertively, varying his pace and capitalizing on openings. His confidence soared as he combined powerful shots with clever plays, winning the match in just 50 minutes.
Renewed Energy
After a strong finish to the 2025 season, Lakshya shared that he feels rejuvenated. After slipping out of the top 20 last year, he made a comeback, reaching the quarterfinals at the Denmark Open and then the semifinals in Japan before triumphing at the Australian Open.
He stated, “I am in a much better space, definitely enjoying the game more. Winning the Australian Open was vital, and I hope to keep this form going.”
Tough Losses for Other Indians
In men’s doubles, Satwik and Chirag battled through a grueling match that lasted over an hour but ultimately fell short, losing 27-25, 21-23, 19-21. They faced a controversial moment in the final game when a fault was called against Satwik, but they chose to move on and insisted it didn’t affect their performance.
Both players acknowledged that receiving a bye in the first round might have hindered their readiness, as they hadn’t competed since their last match in Malaysia.
Disappointment in Women’s Doubles
In the women’s doubles category, Commonwealth Games bronze medalists Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly faced a tough defeat after leading in their match against the seventh seeds from China. They lost a close deciding game in a match that lasted over an hour.
Earlier in the day, MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan were eliminated from the men’s doubles by fourth seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang from China.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on Lakshya Sen, the last remaining hope for Indian badminton success in this competitive event.
