The 21-year-old shuttler from Almora showcased a badminton masterpiece, combining outstanding pace and gear to outclass the reigning All England champion Feng in an exciting summit conflict.
With a ranking of 21-18, 22-20, Sen demonstrated his ability and backbone, claiming victory and including every other prestigious name to his identify. This triumph follows his previous luck on the 2022 India Open, the place he clinched his maiden Super 500 name.
“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 informed PTI after the win.
“I had to dig deep in some matches, the conditions were different and getting used to it was important,” stated the ace shuttler.
Sen celebrated his first name since successful the gold medal on the Commonwealth Games in August of the former 12 months. He changed into the second one singles participant from India to assert a name this 12 months, following HS Prannoy’s victory on the Malaysia Masters in May.
Sen’s resilience and composure had been on complete show as he fought again from 4 sport issues down in the second one sport. He seized a championship level and capitalized on his first alternative, concluding the serious fit with a formidable destroy. Overwhelmed with reduction and happiness, he collapsed onto the courtroom in birthday party.
The contest between the 2 avid gamers featured odd rallies, characterised by way of swift exchanges on the web. Sen, preserving a good grip on complaints, secured his 5th victory in seven encounters towards his Chinese opponent.
This triumph will function a much-needed self belief spice up for Sen, who had skilled a dip in shape previous within the season, leading to a slip to the nineteenth place on this planet scores. As a former international no. 6 and a bronze medalist on the 2021 World Championships, Sen encountered demanding situations in convalescing his shape after present process nostril surgical procedure for a deviated septum in August of the former 12 months.
Sen demonstrated awesome regulate and temperament to emerge victorious towards the arena no. 10 from China. Playing a good web sport and unleashing a chain of potent down-the-line and cross-court smashes, Sen afflicted Feng, who discovered himself trailing 2-6 within the opening sport.
Both avid gamers engaged in a high-speed trade, turning in attention-grabbing leap smashes. Li unleashed two thunderous smashes at speeds of 390 kmph, whilst Sen countered with a few lightning-fast 400 kmph photographs. At the mid-game period, Sen controlled to take care of a three-point merit after Li didn’t maintain a frame go back from the Indian.
However, unforced mistakes led to Li to fall in the back of at 12–15. Although he controlled to degree the ranking at 15-15, Sen won 3 sport issues together with his trademark directly destroy.
Sen additional asserted his dominance with an actual go back on Li’s forehand, in the long run claiming the primary sport.
In the second one sport, Li won momentum after an preliminary fight that left the ranking tied at 5-5. He entered the spoil with a four-point lead, capitalizing on his superiority on the web. Attempting to shift the tides, Sen altered his ways and narrowed the deficit to 13-14. However, Li maintained his merit and had 4 sport issues with a formidable go back that stuck Sen off guard.
Displaying his choice, Sen answered with a forehand frame destroy, adopted by way of every other tough destroy. Li falters on the web, permitting Sen to degree the ranking. Another rally concluded with an actual go back on Li’s forehand, giving Sen the merit. He sealed the victory with but every other thunderous destroy.
(With PTRI inputs)