Lakshya Sen’s dream at the All England Championships came to an end with a straight game loss in the men’s singles final against world number one and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, continuing India’s 21-year long wait for the coveted trophy.
After four days of sensational badminton, the 20-year-old Sen stumbled to the pinnacle of history as he made too many mistakes to lose 10-21, 15-21 to former champion Axelsen in a one-sided summit clash that lasted 53 minutes.
On Saturday, Sen became the fifth Indian after Prakash Nath (1947), Prakash Padukone (1980, 1981), Pullela Gopichand (2001) and Saina Nehwal (2015) to defeat defending champion Li Zi to reach the final of the prestigious tournament. Lived in the gruesome semi-finals.
return the favor
A week earlier, Sen had scored his first win over former world champion Axelsen on his way to his final appearance at the German Open, but on Sunday he could not keep up his skills as his highly arch-rival claimed his fifth overall victory. Having returned the favor. against Indian.
Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in action during the men’s singles final against India’s Lakshya Sen | photo Credit: ed sykes
While 2020 winner Axelsen claimed the men’s singles title for the second time, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi defeated South Korea’s An Seyong 21-15, 21-15 in the final to win the women’s singles title.
Despite the defeat, it has been a credible performance for Sen, who is still in his early days at elite level badminton.
A product of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru, Sen has been in sensational form over the past six months.
He secured his first World Championship bronze in December, before winning his maiden Super 500 title at the India Open in January and runner-up at the German Open last week.
India laudes Lakshya’s effort
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded shuttler Lakshya Sen for a spirited fight after losing in the final of the All England Championships, and expressed confidence that he will continue to scale new heights of success.
Many Indians lauded the 20-year-old’s effort in the final of the All England Badminton Open Championship.
PM Modi tweeted
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar
Industrialist Anand Mahindra
Rahul Gandhi
Published on
21 March 2022