Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Lakshya Sen lost to Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the quarter-final 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.
His exit marked India’s second major setback at the BWF Super 750 event, following PV Sindhu’s straight-games defeat to World No.1 An Se Young in the women’s singles quarterfinals.
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.
