Lakshya Sen, who won bronze at the World Championships, placed second at the 2022 All England Open Badminton Championships after losing to world number one Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles final on Saturday.
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Key Points:
- Sen, rated No. 11 in the world, was defeated by reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen 10-21, 15-21. On his route to the top of the podium, the world No. 1 was unstoppable and didn’t drop a single game.
- In the final, the world No. 1 brought his A-game. He established his stride early in the game and maintained it throughout the first game. Sen had flashes of brilliance, but they weren’t enough to overcome the former world champion, who won the first game.
- Axelsen dominated Sen in the second game with his powerful smashes. Long rallies took their toll on the young Indian, who did his hardest to defend. Sen came back with three straight points to make a comeback, but Axelsen showed his skill and won the second game and the title.
- Sen had upset world No. 7 Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the semi-finals on Saturday, 21-13, 12-21, 21-19, to become the first Indian to compete in the men’s singles final of the prestigious BWF Super 1000 event since Pullela Gopichand’s memorable victory in 2001.
The important takeaway for the exam:
Only two Indians have ever won the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships award:
- Prakash Padukone (1981);
- Pullela Gopichand (2001).