Lakshya Sen Eliminated by Garret Tan in Second Round of BWF World Championship

In an unexpected turn of events at the BWF World Championship in Delhi, 14th seed Lakshya Sen was ousted in the second round, facing a defeat against world No. 92 Garret Tan from the USA with scores of 21-19, 19-21, 17-21. This loss came less than 24 hours after a hard-fought victory in the first round, where fans had hailed him as a “superstar.”

Reflecting on the match, Lakshya expressed his disappointment, stating, “I was always playing the covering up game. I still had my chances but eventually he was taking those points, and I was under pressure and always trying to play the catch-up game. Towards the third [game] both of us were completely exhausted. I think I gave it my all in the end, but it was just not enough to win… a little bit disappointed.”

Match Dynamics and Pressure Factors

Despite the match’s energy-draining nature, which typically plays to Lakshya’s strengths as a counterattacking player, the mental aspect proved decisive. Positioned on a windy court with raucous home support, Lakshya struggled to manage both his nerves and Tan’s aggressive gameplay. The intense atmosphere, enhanced by loud cheers and even a dhol drum, added to the pressure of competing in front of a home crowd.

In the opening game, Tan secured a narrow 11-10 lead at the interval. Although Lakshya managed to clinch the first game 21-19, it required significant effort. The second game saw Tan maintain control, achieving an early lead of 9-4, which Lakshya attempted to narrow down with a short comeback. However, Tan’s attacking strategy continued to test Lakshya’s renowned defense, ultimately leading to Lakshya falling behind again at crucial moments.

Tan’s tactical prowess was exemplified as he advanced to 5 game points in the second game, sealing it 21-19 with an angled smash. The final game began with Tan asserting dominance, taking a 7-2 lead before the interval. Although the crowd rallied behind Lakshya, cheering louder with each of Tan’s errors, the American teenager remained composed, extending his lead to 11-4 at the break.

Conclusion and Forward Look

The match reached a pivotal moment when Tan fell and called for medical assistance, leaving him momentarily dizzy. Yet, even with the crowd’s heightened support, Tan secured victory with another decisive angled smash, marking the biggest win of his career. For Lakshya and his fans, this defeat was a harsh reality check amid the highs and lows of his career.

Looking ahead, Lakshya emphasized the importance of focusing on upcoming tournaments, acknowledging the need to work on his mental game. “Yeah, it’s going to probably hurt a little bit more, but again we have a lot of good tournaments coming up, so we have to just focus on that, and prepare for that,” he remarked, highlighting ‘focus’ as a key part of his preparation moving forward.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn