Synopsis
Lakshya Sen's remarkable performance in the All-England Open Badminton Championships led him to a quarterfinals berth after defeating Jonathan Christie. Meanwhile, Malvika Bansod's campaign ended against Akane Yamaguchi, who displayed her dominance. India's men's doubles teams also secured victories, keeping the hopefuls alive in the tournament.Key Takeaways
- Lakshya Sen triumphed over Jonathan Christie in the quarterfinals.
- Malvika Bansod lost to Akane Yamaguchi, ending her tournament run.
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced in men's doubles.
- India's hopes remain alive in men's doubles competition.
- Yamaguchi continues to dominate with a 4-0 record against Malvika.
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) Lakshya Sen showcased an exceptional performance to advance into the quarterfinals of the All-England Open Badminton Championships, achieving a resounding straight-game victory over Indonesia's Jonathan Christie with scores of 21-13, 21-10 in Birmingham on Thursday. The Indian player, recognized for his rapid footwork and accurate shot-making, dismantled the world No. 4 in merely 36 minutes, keeping India's aspirations alive in this esteemed tournament.
Sen, who reached the final of the All-England in 2022, displayed complete control from the onset, utilizing his aggressive style and sharp net play to disrupt Christie. The 22-year-old Indian set the match's tempo, securing an early lead and maintaining his dominance throughout.
Christie, unable to find his rhythm, struggled to respond to Sen's relentless offensive strategy, enabling the Indian to conclude the match effortlessly.
In women's singles, Malvika Bansod’s journey ended with a straight-game defeat against two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. The world No. 3 easily outplayed Malvika, winning 21-16, 21-13 in just 33 minutes, extending her head-to-head record against the Indian to 4-0.
Malvika, who had previously shown potential in her recent matches, found it challenging to keep pace with Yamaguchi’s speed and accuracy. From the start, the Japanese player dominated the rallies, compelling the Indian to make unforced mistakes. Malvika struggled with her shot placements, frequently hitting wide or into the net, which allowed Yamaguchi to establish an early advantage.
Despite a brief resurgence where she came within 13-15 in the first game, Malvika could not maintain the pressure. Yamaguchi’s clever drop shots and well-placed smashes helped her comfortably secure the first game.
The second game followed a similar trend. Although Malvika managed to draw even at 5-5 and later at 8-8, her inconsistency resurfaced. Yamaguchi capitalized on this, pulling ahead at the mid-game interval and leaving Malvika with minimal opportunities for a comeback. With eight match points available, Yamaguchi concluded the contest with a powerful smash, ending India’s challenge in the women’s singles event at the tournament.
Previously, India's top-ranked men's doubles team, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their impressive performance in the competition, moving to the second round with a commanding win over Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard. The world No. 1 pair secured a straight-game victory in just 35 minutes, reinforcing their status as title contenders.
The duo, seeded seventh, is set to face China’s Hao Nan Xie and Wei Han Zeng in the round of 16 on Thursday. World No. 9 Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who have reached back-to-back semifinals in this event, will compete against the eighth-seeded Korean duo of Hye Jeong Kim and Hee Yong Kong.
