Lakshya Sen, the star India shuttler, faced a defeat in the opening round of the men's singles at the Badminton Asia Championships, falling to top-seeded local favourite Shi Yu Qi. Despite a valiant effort, Sen succumbed to Qi in straight games in a gripping encounter that lasted over 50 minutes. Sen, a bronze medallist at the World Championships, displayed commendable performance but couldn't overcome the dominance of higher-ranked opponent Shi Yu Qi. The 22-year-old did put up a fight but eventually lost 19-21 15-21 in a gruelling battle.
The tournament didn't begin as well as the Indian shuttlers would have liked with talented player Priyanshu Rajawat facing an early exit in the men's singles opening round, losing to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia. The Panda sisters, Rutuparna and Swetaparna, also experienced disappointment in the opening round of women's doubles, losing to China's Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu W.
Despite the defeat, Lakshya Sen demonstrated resilience on the court, engaging in long rallies and showcasing impressive court coverage. He maintained a competitive edge throughout the match, refusing to concede easily to his opponent. However, Shi Yu Qi, the top seed, proved his prowess with a combination of aggressive play and strategic shots, ultimately securing victory over Sen. Despite Sen's determined efforts, Qi's consistency and control earned him the win.
Shi Yu Qi's Tactical Play Against Lakshya Sen Tilted Match In His Favour
In both games, Sen and Qi engaged in intense rallies, with Sen displaying remarkable agility and defensive skills. However, Qi's tactical play and ability to capitalize on Sen's errors ultimately tilted the match in his favour.
Though Lakshya Sen faced a setback in the Badminton Asia Championships, he would look to get back to form moving deeper into the season.
(With Inputs From PTI)