In a valiant display, star Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen fought tenaciously against the formidable world number 9 and Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie in the semifinals of the Japan Open Super 750 badminton tournament on Saturday, before going down 15-21, 21-13, 16-21.
The 21-year-old Sen showed great resilience, bouncing back after losing the opening game to put relentless pressure on his opponent. Despite Christie's solid defence and quality shots, Lakshya fought hard and the match turned into a thrilling contest lasting 68 minutes.
The head-to-head count between the two was tied at 1-1 before this encounter.
In the first game, Lakshya took an early lead with a 7-4 advantage, capitalising on Christie's initial errors. The Indonesian, however, managed to claw back into the game and eventually secured it 21-15.
Determined to turn the tide, Lakshya adjusted his strategy in the second game. He varied the pace of the rallies, played some impressive smashes and drop shots, and disrupted Christie's rhythm with mixed services. The tactics paid off, and Lakshya surged ahead with an 11-5 lead at the interval. He continued to dominate the game, eventually winning it 21-13.
The decider proved to be an intense battle, with both players exchanging leads frequently.
Lakshya tried to outwit his opponent in the rallies, but Christie managed to maintain control and took a decisive four-point cushion at the interval. Despite Lakshya's efforts to stage a comeback, Christie's solid defence and accurate shots secured him a 21-16 victory in the third game.
Throughout the match, Lakshya displayed exceptional skill and speed, while Christie's shot-making and consistent defence posed challenges that the Indian shuttler worked hard to overcome.
(With agency inputs)
