Lakshya Sen’s Thailand Open Journey Ends with Semifinal Loss to Kunlavut Vitidsarn

Bangkok: Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen faced a tough defeat in the semifinals of the Thailand Open, marking the end of his challenge in the tournament.

The match saw him pitted against Thailand’s second seed, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, in a gruelling three-game men’s singles showdown. Despite a strong start in the first game, Lakshya couldn’t maintain his momentum, eventually succumbing to a 21-13, 17-21, 13-21 loss after a challenging battle lasting one hour and 15 minutes. Kunlavut will now await the outcome of the other semifinal clash between Hong Kong’s eighth seed, Cheuk Yiu Lee, and France’s Toma Junior Popov.

This season, Lakshya reached the semifinals for the first time, having narrowly missed out on advancing further in the Indonesia Masters, where he exited in the quarterfinals.

Lakshya’s performance this year has been below par, resulting in a drop in his ranking from a career-high sixth to 23rd. In the initial stages of the first game, both shuttlers displayed equal prowess until Lakshya took charge and secured an 11-6 lead before the break.

However, Kunlavut made a strong comeback after the break, winning four consecutive points and narrowing the deficit to 11-10. Just in time, Lakshya elevated his game and established a five-point lead, ultimately comfortably securing the first game without allowing his opponent any chances.

The second game witnessed a closely fought battle, with both players matching each other point for point until Kunlavut utilized his cross-court smashes to grab a narrow 12-10 lead, his first of the match. Nevertheless, Lakshya fought back with prolonged rallies and precise drop shots, keeping the competition fierce. Despite his efforts, Kunlavut raised his game and clinched four consecutive points, securing the second game and pushing the match into a decider.

In the decider, Kunlavut initially gained momentum, taking a 5-2 lead. However, Lakshya fought back tirelessly as the two players engaged in a fierce duel. The extended rallies eventually took a toll on the Indian shuttler, visibly draining his energy as the final game progressed. This resulted in Kunlavut establishing a substantial 18-12 lead, ultimately closing out the decider with ease.