LAKSHYA SEN ENTERS FINAL OF ALL ENGLAND BADMINTON

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: India’s Lakshya Sen has continued his super dream run in the prestigious All England Badminton Championship. Lakshya entered  the Final in Birmingham and became the first Indian in the last two decades to qualify for the epic match. Twenty years old Lakshya is the youngest Indian to play Final.

On Saturday after an amazing semifinal encounter Lakshya beat defending Champion Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia 21-13, 12-21, 21-19.

Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand are the only Indians to have won the prestigious event, while Saina Nehwal had reached the final in 2015.

Lakshya, who hails from Almora district of Uttrakhand, was junior sensation but he is proving more dashing in the early stages of entering in the senior badminton circuit.

He becomes the 1st Indian finalist of the prestigious All England Badminton Championship in 21 years.

World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya had advanced to the semis after his opponent Lu Guang Zu of China gave a walkover. Sen had earlier stunned World No 3 and two-time medallist at World Championships, Anders Antonsen of Denmark, 21-16 21-18 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals. The Indian would be looking to continue his stellar form.

Lakshya got silver medal in the German open few days ago. Lakshya has beaten World no 1 & Tokyo Olympics gold  medalist Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in a thriller semifinals 21-13,12-21,22-20.

Lakshya’s brother Chirag Sen is also a International player and his father D K Sen is a experienced badminton coach. Lakshya is a trains at Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy at Bangalore. Lakshya works at Indian Oil Corporation.