Lakshya Sen Advances in India Open 2026, Srikanth and Prannoy Bow Out
Lakshya Sen Shines at India Open 2026
New Delhi, January 15: Former champion Lakshya Sen showcased his defensive skills and quick pace to secure a victory over Japan's Kenta Nishimoto in the second round of the India Open 2026, a BWF World Tour Super 750 event hosted by the Badminton Association of India at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Thursday.
Sen triumphed with scores of 21-19, 21-11, advancing to the quarterfinals, while Kidambi Srikanth faced a tough match against Christo Popov of France, the BWF World Tour Finals winner, ultimately losing 21-14, 17-21, 21-17. HS Prannoy also fell short against eighth seed Loh Kean Yew from Singapore, with a scoreline of 18-21, 21-19, 21-14.
In women's singles, India's hopes were dashed as Malvika Bansod was defeated by fifth seed Han Yue from China, who won 21-18, 21-15.
Sen encountered challenges early in his match against Nishimoto, struggling to find his rhythm and trailing 11-16 in the first game. However, he engaged in lengthy rallies and executed impressive defensive strokes, allowing him to recover and take the lead, ultimately winning the first game on his first opportunity.
In the second game, Sen displayed a more aggressive approach, varying his pace and capitalizing on openings. His confidence grew as he mixed half smashes with clever drops, securing his quarterfinal spot in just 50 minutes.
“I struggled with my rhythm at the start, which allowed him to attack. Once I adjusted my lifts and focused on defense, I turned the game around,” Sen remarked after the match.
Next, he will face Lin Chun-Yi from Chinese Taipei, who defeated Nhat Nguyen of Ireland 21-16, 21-17.
“In the second game, I knew I had to disrupt his rhythm, so I varied my speed, and it paid off,” he added.
In other matches, Prannoy initially led against Loh and saved three game points in the second game, coming close to an upset. However, once the match reached a decider, Loh increased the pace, and Prannoy struggled to keep up with his opponent's strategy.
Earlier, Srikanth displayed moments of brilliance against Popov but ultimately could not overcome the challenge posed by France's first World Tour Finals men's singles champion.