Lakshya Sen of India (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: When Lakshya Sen took on Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the All England Open 2022 final, he could only take 10 and 15 points from the Dane. In 2024, after securing a long-term British visa, the Indian shuttler joked that he would win the title there 3-4 times and reach the finals at least eight times. Last Sunday, the 24-year-old made it to the final but the title column came up empty when he lost 15-21, 20-22 to Lin Chun-Yi of Taiwan.A blister on his foot played a role, as did fatigue from playing a 97-minute semi-final hours earlier. In total, he occupied the court 91 minutes longer than his conqueror Lin. Shoulder fatigue made it a physically one-sided affair even before the quill met the strings.
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“The semi-final I played took a toll on my body, the cramps I had. I did everything I could to recover well and come back fresh for the final, but it was difficult to come back to 100%,” Lakshya said during a media interaction on Tuesday.“The whole week was tough with long matches right from the first day and the muscles got tired. Even in the semi-final I had a lot of cramp and the fatigue was there in the final as well,” added Lakshya. “Obviously, my opponent was also playing his fifth match of the week, but I tried to give it my all and do my best.The 24-year-old repeatedly felt “disheartened” not to walk away with the title, while also acknowledging the physical strain on his body. Still, he did what any athlete does: he accepted that both players started at the same level because they played five games a week.Sen’s week included wins over top seed and world number one Shi Yu Qi; former world No. 6 Angus Ng Ka Long and sixth seed Li Shi Feng with only one match apart from the final ended in straight sets.The difference between the Lakshya Sen of 2022 and that of 2026 is in the level of expectations he places on himself. The heartbreak of missing out on a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics has also made him a more determined player.“I feel like the first time I played in the All England final, I probably kept dreaming all week that I was playing in such a big event and I got to the final. I was enjoying it and playing without any expectations, but here, when I could reach the close of the tournament, the semi-finals, the quarter-finals. I was better prepared in certain ways, knowing what is being played in these big matches and how I will play now and how I will play. the best.
This time I believed throughout the tournament that I could win the tournament
Lakshya Sen, Indian badminton player
“This time, I believed throughout the tournament that I could win the tournament. When I was so close, I’m also proud and also a little disappointed that I couldn’t win the last victory.”“It was a little different in 2022 where I was just trying to see how far I could go. And I just enjoyed it a little bit more without any expectations. But this time I had that belief and also a little bit of expectation that if I do certain things I can win the tournament,” the shuttler said.
