New Delhi: Olympic champions and top Indian athletes praised Lakshya Sen after the young shuttler finished runner up at the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham.
Lakshya produced a determined performance in the men’s singles final but narrowly missed the title, losing 15 to 21 and 20 to 22 against Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in a closely contested match.
Despite the defeat, the 23 year old’s impressive run throughout the tournament earned widespread appreciation from India’s sporting community. Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra praised Lakshya’s resilience and determination, saying inspiring sporting journeys are often defined by courage and perseverance rather than trophies alone.
Two time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu also commended the young shuttler’s effort and pointed out the physical challenge of playing back to back high intensity matches. She noted that returning to the court for a final less than a day after a demanding semifinal can be extremely taxing on a player’s body.
Reflecting on her own experience at the tournament, Sindhu recalled the physical toll she faced during the 2021 All England Open Badminton Championships, when she played a long quarterfinal against Akane Yamaguchi before returning the next day for a semifinal clash with Pornpawee Chochuwong. She described the quick turnaround between matches as particularly demanding.
Lakshya’s runner up finish means India’s long wait for another men’s singles title at the tournament continues. The only Indian champions in the history of the event remain Prakash Padukone, who won the title in 1980, and Pullela Gopichand, who lifted the trophy in 2001.
However, reaching the final again highlights Lakshya’s rising status in international badminton and signals a promising future for the Indian star on the global stage.
