Lakshya Sen Falls to Lin Chun-Yi in India Open Quarterfinals
The promising run of India’s Lakshya Sen at the India Open Super 750 came to an end on Friday, as he lost a hard-fought match against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi in the men’s singles quarterfinals. The 24-year-old Sen, a former Australian Open champion, succumbed to his fourth consecutive defeat against the world No. 12, losing 21-17, 13-21, 18-21 in a 68-minute battle in New Delhi.
A Brisk Start Followed by a Grueling Contest
Sen began strongly, engaging Lin in fast-paced rallies and establishing an early lead. The opening game saw a tight contest from 4-4 to 7-7, before Sen edged ahead at the interval. Two well-placed winners extended his advantage to 13-10, and sustained pressure, coupled with errors from Lin, pushed the lead to 16-11. A lengthy 54-shot rally culminated in a long shot from Lin, giving Sen five game points, which he converted on his third attempt to secure the first game 21-17.
Conditions Shift, Momentum Swings
The change of ends brought a shift in conditions, making it difficult for Sen to control the shuttle. He struggled with his length, conceding an 11-5 deficit at the interval in the second game. While Sen attempted a comeback, targeting Lin’s backhand with sharp returns, the Taiwanese player regained control, ultimately leveling the match with a 21-13 victory. Sen repeatedly missed the baseline in the second game, contributing to his downfall.
Decisive Third Game Sees Lin Prevail
Sen started the deciding game with a burst of energy, racing to a 4-0 lead. Lin responded with jump smashes and stayed close, narrowing the gap to 8-6, aided by a net cord that favored the Indian player. The game remained competitive, with both players trading momentum. After the final change of ends, Lin equalized at 12-12, but three consecutive errors from Sen gave him a 15-12 lead. The scores were tied again at 15-15 as Lin intensified his attack.
Despite a stunning behind-the-back shot and a body smash from Sen to level the score at 18-18, Lin ultimately proved too strong. He earned match points when Sen found the net, and the match concluded when Sen slipped during a rally, sending a weak return that Lin capitalized on to seal the victory.
Sen Attributes Loss to Wind and Net Play
Following the match, Sen acknowledged areas for improvement. “I could have been a little more clinical towards the end. But credit to him, he played a really solid game,” he stated. He also highlighted the impact of the conditions, saying, “I think in today’s match, I was not prepared for the wind. There was a little bit more wind than yesterday so it took me some time to realise. I was a bit shaky from the net to lift the shuttle and I played so many errors just from the front. Apart from that, I think I could figure out in the third set and not give so many errors from that side.”
Sen, a 2021 world championships bronze medallist, also noted the competitive nature of the match, emphasizing the importance of finishing strong. “I think the third set, it was much more of a pressure game where both of us were trying to keep the attack. But again, the whole match, it was very close and it was important for me to finish off.” He conceded that Lin was playing well and managed to win under the prevailing conditions.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
