Lakshya Sen Defeats NG Ka Long Angus to Advance in All England Open
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Birmingham, March 5 (NationPress) India's Lakshya Sen turned disappointment into triumph as he secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the All England Open after overcoming NG Ka Long Angus from Hong Kong. Despite missing four match points in the second game, Sen showcased his dominance in the deciding set.
The 24-year-old athlete, who stunned defending champion Shi Yu Qi in the first round, clinched the match with a score of 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 after an intense hour and 21 minutes. This victory marked Sen's first win against NG in their four encounters, the last being during the 2023 Malaysia Masters.
Sen, a finalist at the 2022 All England, started strong against his opponent, maintaining a lead throughout the first game. However, NG leveled the score at 19-19 after a three-point run, yet Sen managed to secure the game.
In the second game, it appeared that Sen would win effortlessly after leading 11-4. Nevertheless, NG mounted a comeback, saving three consecutive match points at 17-20 and another at 20-21, ultimately forcing a decisive third game.
“It was a solid match overall. I credit NG for his remarkable comeback in the second game. I felt I didn't play freely towards the end of that game and made too many easy errors. I was prepared to give my all in the third, and I am pleased with how I played,” Sen reflected.
Determined not to slip away from victory again, Sen took command early in the final set with powerful cross-court smashes. Although NG saved one match point at 20-9, the margin was too great for him to overturn.
“I believe I played tactically sound in both games. It's just that I strayed from the plan during the crucial points. The key was to forget the earlier games and focus on implementing the successful strategy in the third,” he added.
As the only Indian remaining in singles, Sen is set to face the winner of the upcoming match between sixth seed Li Shi Feng from China and Nhat Nguyen from Ireland.