Lakshya Sen, the eleventh seed, showcased a stellar performance to progress to the second round of the 2023 BWF World Championships, dispatching Georges Julien Paul from Mauritius. The match, which lasted only 25 minutes, saw the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist overpower Paul with a decisive 21-12, 21-7 scoreline.
Sen's performance follows HS Prannoy, another Indian badminton star, into the next round. With a bronze medal from the 2021 edition under his belt, the shuttler from Almora looks set to face a challenge against Korea's Jeon Hyeok Jin. Meanwhile, Prannoy, the seasoned 31-year-old player from Kerala, is lined up to contend with Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.
Drawing from his past encounters, Sen's face-off against Paul was reminiscent of their clash during his Commonwealth Games gold medal journey. The Indian ace rapidly surged ahead with an 11-3 lead. Although Paul briefly threatened by narrowing the score to 8-12, Sen shifted momentum, effortlessly closing out the opening game. The second game reflected a similar narrative, as Sen established a commanding 13-2 advantage. Missteps from Paul, including two off-target hits, culminated in a victory for the Indian shuttler.
2023 has been a roller coaster for Sen, marked by both highs and lows. Nevertheless, recent triumphs, including his victory at the Canadian Open and semi-final appearances in the US and Japan, have showcased his resilience and form. With a 22-15 win-loss record for the year, Sen's aspirations for his maiden BWF World Championships title burn brightly.
Recalling his 2022 achievements, Sen clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, overcoming Malaysia's Ng Tze Yong. This victory was particularly remarkable as Sen battled from behind to defeat the world number 42.
Earlier during the Championships, HS Prannoy mirrored Sen's winning streak, besting Finland's Kalle Koljonen in straight games. The world number nine, currently India's top singles shuttler, secured a 24-22, 21-10 win, maintaining his undefeated record against Koljonen.
Also, the Indian mixed doubles duo of Rohan Kapoor and N Sikki Reddy, ranked 33 globally, faced defeat. The pair narrowly lost to Scotland's Adam Hall and Julie Macpherson in a nail-biting 59-minute match with scores 14-21, 22-20, 18-21.
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