The India Open badminton championship witnessed a major upset as Lakshya Sen ousted top seed Kenta Nishimoto, securing his spot in the quarterfinals with a 21-17, 13-21, 21-19 win. Sen’s composure under pressure and lightning-fast reflexes turned the pre-quarterfinal into a memorable Indian triumph.
From the outset, Sen dictated the pace, using deceptive drops and powerful clears to unsettle Nishimoto. Despite the Japanese player’s comeback in the second game, Sen roared back, clinching crucial points in a tense decider.
Not all was rosy for India. Kidambi Srikanth suffered a straight-sets defeat to Anders Antonsen (18-21, 15-21), hampered by inconsistent serving. HS Prannoy also exited, losing 19-21, 17-21 to Li Shifeng in a match marked by fierce rallies.
Sen expressed delight: ‘Beating a top-5 player here at home is special.’ His journey continues against a tough opponent, promising more excitement.
With the Olympics looming, such performances signal bright prospects. Other Indians like Priyanshu Rajawat keep the flag flying high in the draw.