Lakshya Sen's Bold Challenge at BWF Worlds
Lakshya Sen is gearing up for a thrilling clash against world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi in the first round of the BWF World Championships, set to take place in Paris this Monday. This match is highly anticipated, and for Lakshya, it represents both a challenge and an opportunity. The Indian shuttler views this encounter as a final, indicating his determination to perform at his best.
Reflecting on his previous experiences, Lakshya is determined not to let the heartbreak from the Olympics last year cloud his performance. He stated, “I’m not thinking on those lines. That adds extra pressure.” Instead, he remains focused on his motivation and the hard work he has put in throughout the season.
Despite a challenging start to 2025, Lakshya is keen to leverage the chance to face Shi early in the tournament. He understands that playing against a top seed like Shi in the opening rounds is better than facing him later when the stakes are even higher. With a head-to-head record of 1-3 against Shi, who has already clinched three Super 1000 titles this year, Lakshya knows he has his work cut out for him.
The Indian player admits he had a tough time processing his Olympic experience, where he finished fourth after leading in crucial matches. However, he has learned to find positives from that campaign. “Now I try to find the few good things out of that and try and remember it in a better way that helps me grow as a person and become stronger mentally,” he shared.
Though Lakshya has faced early exits in most of the tournaments this year, he recently made it to the semifinals of the Macau Open, showing signs of resurgence. His previous encounter with Shi at the Indonesia Open also saw him fight hard, pushing the match to 65 minutes before ultimately losing.
As he prepares for the World Championships, Lakshya expresses excitement about playing good badminton, especially in a venue where he has previously excelled, such as the French Open. He recognizes the challenge ahead but is determined to treat every match, starting from the first round, as a final.
On the opening day of the championship, other Indian shuttlers will also be in action, including Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra in women’s doubles, along with the Panda sisters, Rutuparna and Swetaparna. In men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruben Rethinasabapathi will take the court. Prominent players like PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and Satwik-Chirag will kick off their campaigns on Tuesday.
