Lakshya Sen emerges triumphant at Canada Open

Lakshya Sen has won the Canada Open after defeating Li Shi Feng in the final.

Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen has registered a wonderful performance to clinch his second BWF Super 500 title by defeating Li Shi Feng of China in the final of the Canada Open.

The 21-year-old seemed to be at the peak of his powers during the final and outclassed his opponent in straight games to seal a monumental victory. Sen was able to combine rapid pace, reflexes along with power to secure his victory over the reigning All England champion in what proved to be a pulsating final.

The score of 21-18 and 22-20 does justice to the riveting nature of the contest and proves Sen’s credentials as a rising force in the world of badminton. He did well to demonstrate his skill, and added yet another prestigious title to his name following a top-notch win.

This triumph follows his earlier success at the 2022 India Open, where he clinched his maiden Super 500 title.

"Coming into the Olympic qualification year, it was tough as things didn't go my way. So this win will be a big boost to my confidence," Sen told PTI after the win.
"I had to dig deep in some matches, the conditions were different and getting used to it was important," the ace shuttler said.

This was his first title since winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August last year. He became the second singles player from India to claim a title this year, following HS Prannoy's victory at the Malaysia Masters in May.

In the final, Sen needed to display both resilience and also give a measure of composure. He had to fight back from four game points down in the second game to gain the upper hand. The shuttler from Almora also managed to seize a championship point and capitalized on his first opportunity, concluding the intense match with a powerful smash. Overwhelmed with relief and happiness, he collapsed onto the court in celebration.

There’s no doubt that this victory will serve a lot of confidence to Lakshya Sen’s plans moving forward. The youngster had experienced a dip in form towards the beginning of the season and was struggling to play his usual game. That resulted in a slip to the 19th position in the world rankings.

As a former world No. 6 and a bronze medalist at the 2021 World Championships, Sen encountered challenges in recovering his form after undergoing nose surgery for a deviated septum in August of the previous year.