Thailand Open 2023: India’s Lakshya Sen Advances to Semifinals

Bangkok: Indian badminton sensation Lakshya Sen displayed an exceptional performance in the ongoing Thailand Open 2023, securing a spot in the semifinals and keeping India’s hopes alive. He triumphed over Malaysia’s Jun Hao Leong with a remarkable score of 21-19, 21-11 in the men’s singles quarterfinals held in Bangkok on Friday. Despite facing a challenging season, Lakshya, the reigning Commonwealth Games 2022 champion, showcased his resilience.

Competing at the Indoor Stadium Huamark, Lakshya encountered a tough situation in the first game when he trailed his opponent, ranked 65th in the world, by six points at 10-16. However, the Indian shuttler made an aggressive comeback, turning the game in his favour and securing a thrilling 21-19 victory. Carrying the momentum, Lakshya entered the second game with a three-point lead, capitalizing on it to secure his second win over Jun Hao Leong at the senior level.

In the highly-anticipated semifinals on Saturday, Lakshya will face the winner of the match between Guang Zu Lu from the Republic of China, ranked 13th in the world, and Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, ranked 5th, in the prestigious BWF Super 500 tournament.

In the round of 16, Lakshya showcased his skills by defeating the fourth seed and reigning All England Open champion from China, Li Shi Feng, in straight games. Meanwhile, India’s Kiran George faced disappointment as he succumbed to a 16-21, 17-21 defeat against Frenchman Toma Junior Popov in a hard-fought match lasting 41 minutes.

Starting at 59th in the men’s singles rankings, George was unable to catch up to the 28th-ranked Toma Junior Popov after conceding an early lead. Although George entered the second game with a three-point advantage, Toma Junior Popov showed his mettle by clinching four consecutive points when the game was tied at 17-all, ultimately advancing to the semifinals.

Earlier rounds witnessed George’s impressive victories over former All England Open champion Shi Yu Qi and the in-form Weng Hong Yang. In the women’s singles event, Indian players Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu faced setbacks, with Nehwal exiting in the round of 16 and Sindhu experiencing a first-round defeat.