Lakshya Sen delivered a stirring comeback to power Indiaโs menโs badminton team past Japan in the Asian Games quarterfinals at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
Lakshya Sen delivered a stirring comeback, helping India’s men’s badminton team seal a comprehensive victory over Japan in the Asian Games quarterfinals on Tuesday at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
India is assured of a podium finish in badminton, courtesy of Lakshya Senโs performance, extending the nationโs streak of medalโwinning campaigns in the quadrennial sporting event.
The Indian men’s team featured stars such as Lakshya, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty and Ayush Shetty, who won silver in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Lakshya’s comeback helps India seal 3-0 win
Lakshya featured in the opening fixture against World No. 7 Kodai Naraoka and suffered an 11-21 thrashing in the opening game. The 25-year-old from Almora pulled off a sensational turnaround, winning the last two games 21-5, 21-19 to help India gain a 1-0 lead.
While battling a back injury, Lakshya Sen struggled to find rhythm and endured a difficult start in the opening game as he struggled to make an impact.
After losing the first game, he received a pep talk from chief coach Pullela Gopichand and changed sides, which seemed to do wonders for the shuttler as he made an emphatic comeback.
The Indian shuttler’s gruelling battle against a two-time world championship silver medallist lasted for an hour and six minutes. The victory over his Japanese counterpart boosted the team’s confidence in their campaign.
More from Badminton NewsSatwik-Chirag, Ayush also win
In the first doubles action, Satwik-Chirag sealed a comfortable 21-18, 24-22 victory over former world champions Hoki Takuro and Kobayashi Yugo, extending India’s lead to 2-0.
Ayush Shetty extended India’s lead to 3-0 against Japan after his impressive performance helped seal a 21-10, 21-19 victory over Koki Watanabe, which confirmed a medal finish for the country.
India will face the winner of the other quarterfinal between defending champions China and Korea in the last-four stage on Wednesday.