Lakshya Sen appeared to run out of steam in the closing stages of his quarterfinal clash against Japan’s Koki Watanabe, crashing out of the Singapore Open after a hard-fought three-game battle. The Indian shuttler went down 21-19, 15-21, 21-15 in a physically draining contest that ultimately swung on endurance in the decider.
Singpore Open : Highlights
His exit marked India’s second major setback at the BWF Super 750 event, following PV Sindhu’s straight-games defeat to world number one An Se Young in the women’s singles quarterfinals.
Despite the singles disappointment, India still had positives to celebrate in the doubles categories, with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty storming into the semifinals, while the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also continued their strong run.
RAN OUT OF STEAM IN DECIDER
Lakshya’s quarterfinal against Watanabe began as a tightly contested battle, with both players exchanging long rallies and testing each other’s defensive resilience. The opening game was evenly matched, but Watanabe managed to edge ahead in crucial moments to take it 21-19.
The Indian shuttler responded strongly in the second game, showing sharper intent and better control over the rallies. Lakshya began to dictate terms, creating multiple opportunities and even earning up to five game points at one stage. He eventually closed out the set 21-15 to level the match and force a decider.
However, the momentum shifted in the third game as fatigue began to set in. Watanabe adopted a patient, endurance-based strategy, extending rallies and forcing Lakshya into repeated movements across the court. The tactic gradually paid off as the Japanese shuttler pulled ahead.
Lakshya’s physical struggle became more evident as the decider progressed, with the Indian requiring medical attention due to discomfort in his leg. Despite attempting to fight back and reduce the deficit, he was unable to maintain the intensity needed to close the gap.
Watanabe steadily built a five-point lead and eventually earned six match points. He sealed the contest 21-15 in the third game, booking his place in the semifinals after a gruelling 2-1 win.
MIXED FORTUNES
While Lakshya’s exit was a setback, India’s doubles performances offered encouragement. The men’s pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued their strong form, advancing into the semifinals with confidence.
In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also progressed after their opponents, the reigning World champions Chen Ten Jie and Toh Ee Wei retired mid-game, keeping India’s hopes alive in the tournament.
Earlier, PV Sindhu’s quarterfinal defeat to An Se Young had already ended India’s challenge in women’s singles. With Lakshya’s exit following soon after, India’s focus now shifts firmly to its doubles campaign, where medal hopes remain intact.
– Ends
