Badminton

India's Lakshya Sen's impressive run at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament came to an end in the quarterfinals, as he succumbed to a hard-fought defeat against world no.5 Anders Antonsen of Denmark. The match, which lasted for an hour and one minute, saw Sen put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short, losing 22-24, 18-21.The first game was a closely contested affair, with both players showcasing their exceptional skills. Sen, known for his quick reflexes and aggressive play, matched Antonsen's power and precision. The game went down to the wire, with both players tied at 22-22. However, it was Antonsen who managed to secure the crucial points, taking the game 24-22.The second game followed a similar pattern, with both players refusing to give an inch. Sen displayed his determination and resilience, fighting back from an early deficit to level the scores at 18-18. However, Antonsen's experience and composure proved to be the difference, as he capitalized on Sen's unforced errors to seal the game 21-18.Despite the defeat, Sen's performance at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament was a testament to his growing stature in the badminton world. The 21-year-old Indian has consistently performed at a high level in recent months, and his quarterfinal appearance in Jakarta is a further indication of his potential.Antonsen, on the other hand, continues to be a formidable force in the men's singles circuit. The Danish shuttler has won several major titles in his career, including the 2020 European Championships and the 2021 BWF World Tour Finals. His victory over Sen extends his head-to-head record against the Indian to 3-2.In the semifinals, Antonsen will face eighth seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. Vitidsarn has also been in impressive form this season, having won the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament in May. The match promises to be another exciting encounter, with both players looking to secure a place in the final.

U Vimal Kumar's animated coaching during the All England Open badminton on Wednesday proved crucial as his ward Lakshya Sen overcame the challenge of Magnus Johannesen in the first round. Despite Sen's lead, Johannesen's powerful shots kept Kumar on edge.Johannesen, a highly-rated Danish player, is considered a rising star in men's badminton. His left-handedness poses a unique challenge to right-handed opponents. However, Sen's superior net play and patience in rallies earned him a 21-14, 21-14 victory.While Sen's strong start is promising, his path ahead becomes more challenging. On Thursday, he faces Johannesen's compatriot and world No. 3 Anders Antonsen. Sen won their first encounter, but Antonsen has dominated their subsequent meetings.This is the third consecutive year that Sen and Antonsen will face off in the All England Open, with both previous encounters occurring in Round 2. Sen eliminated Antonsen in 2021 en route to the final, while Antonsen prevailed in 2022.Antonsen has been in impressive form this year, winning the Malaysia Open and Indonesia Masters. Priyanshu Rajawat, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing loss to Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, extending his losing streak in the first two rounds of the BWF World Tour to five.In women's doubles, Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa defeated Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam for the second time in as many months. They will now face Chinese fifth seeds Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu in the second round. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, however, lost to Indonesian pair Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.