Lakshya Sen Faces Early Exit at BWF World Championships
Disappointment filled the air after Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen suffered a surprising defeat in the second round of the BWF World Championships on Wednesday. Former chief national coach Vimal Kumar expressed his frustration, stating, “Lakshya lost to a very ordinary player, and there is no excuse for this performance.” The match saw Sen lose with scores of 21-19, 19-21, 17-21 against American Garret Tan, ranked 92nd in the world, in a tense battle that lasted 73 minutes.
For Tan, this victory marked a significant milestone in his young career. Initially scheduled to return home on Friday, he now has the chance to continue competing and make the most of this unexpected opportunity. The 18-year-old, a former world junior No. 1, had not advanced beyond the early rounds of any tour-level events this year, primarily competing at the International Challenge level before this tournament.
Sen started the match strong, leading 11-10 at the interval in the first game. He managed to win the first game, raising his fist in celebration, a sign of the pressure he was under during the match. However, Tan swiftly rebounded, demonstrating powerful smashes and clever tactics that kept Sen on the defensive. The American mixed up his shots effectively, which disoriented Sen and gave Tan the advantage.
Vimal Kumar noted the importance of maintaining control in rallies, pointing out that Sen was often too passive, allowing Tan to dictate the play. “If he had played some decent, composed rallies from the beginning, he could have comfortably won the match,” Kumar assessed.
Tan’s coaching team emphasized patience in their strategy. Paula Lynn, Tan’s first coach, had worked with him since he was eight and was on hand to guide him through the match. The plan focused on keeping Tan away from Sen’s strong front court play while navigating the court’s drift.
As the match progressed, it became evident that the pressure was mounting on Sen. His frustration began showing when he was warned after throwing his racquet during the third game. Tan took an early lead, making it difficult for Sen to catch up. The crowd rallied behind the Indian player, but Tan remained focused and ultimately closed out the match 21-17.
After the match, Tan reflected on his incredible win. “I’m still speechless right now,” he admitted, grateful for the chance to play another day in Delhi. Sen, although disappointed, recognized the challenges he faced and acknowledged that he gave his best effort. “I think overall it was a very hard-fought match… towards the end of the third set, I was also exhausted,” he stated.
Sen’s journey in this year’s BWF World Championships began with a hard-fought victory over Austria’s Collins Filimon. Despite this setback, the 14th seed has shown promise this season, including a notable performance in the All England final, defeating world No. 1 Shi Yuqi.
As Garret Tan leaves the court with a memorable win, he steps into the next round with newfound confidence, while Lakshya Sen will need to regroup and focus on his future matches.
