Lakshya Sen Advances in India Open 2026; Srikanth and Prannoy Exit

In the India Open 2026, Lakshya Sen showcased his skills by defeating Kenta Nishimoto, advancing to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy faced tough losses, ending their runs in the tournament. Sen's tactical play and defensive prowess were key to his victory, while his next challenge will be against Lin Chun-Yi from Chinese Taipei. Read on for detailed match highlights and insights into the players' performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 15, 2026, 20:50 IST

Lakshya Sen's Strong Performance

In a thrilling match at the India Open 2026, a BWF World Tour Super 750 event held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, former champion Lakshya Sen showcased his defensive skills and quick pace to defeat Japan's Kenta Nishimoto. Sen triumphed with scores of 21-19, 21-11, securing his place in the quarterfinals. However, his compatriots Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy faced tough challenges and were eliminated in the second round.

Match Highlights

Sen's victory came after Srikanth lost to Christo Popov of France, the BWF World Tour Finals champion, with scores of 21-14, 17-21, 21-17. Prannoy also fell short against eighth seed Loh Kean Yew from Singapore, losing 18-21, 21-19, 21-14. Additionally, India's hopes in the women's singles were dashed when Malvika Bansod was defeated by Chinese fifth seed Han Yue, 21-18, 21-15.

Sen's Tactical Approach

Sen faced difficulties early in his match against Nishimoto, trailing 11-16 at one point. However, he engaged in lengthy rallies and executed impressive defensive maneuvers to recover. He won five consecutive points to take the lead and clinched the first game on his first opportunity. In the second game, Sen displayed a more aggressive strategy, mixing his shots effectively to secure his quarterfinal spot in just 50 minutes.

"I struggled with my rhythm initially, but I focused on my defense and that helped me turn the game around," Sen remarked after the match.

Upcoming Challenge

Next, Sen will compete against Lin Chun-Yi from Chinese Taipei, who defeated Nhat Nguyen of Ireland with scores of 21-16, 21-17. Sen noted, "In the second game, I knew I had to disrupt his rhythm, and varying my speed proved effective."

Tough Matches for Srikanth and Prannoy

In other matches, Prannoy initially won against Loh but struggled to maintain his momentum in the deciding game. Srikanth also showed flashes of brilliance against Popov but ultimately could not secure a victory against the French player, marking a disappointing end to their campaigns.