Lakshya Sen's campaign at the India Open concluded abruptly in the first round, as the prominent shuttler was defeated by Lin Chun-Yi from Chinese Taipei. Despite the anticipation surrounding his performance, the 21-year-old Indian player lost in straight sets, 21-15, 21-10, within a mere 37 minutes, leaving spectators at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in a state of disbelief. From the outset, Lin's relentless speed significantly disrupted Lakshya's gameplay.

A pivotal moment occurred midway through the second game when Lakshya, trailing 7-11, made a desperate dive to return a series of powerful smashes from Lin. Although his courageous defensive efforts, which resulted in a fall, garnered applause from the audience, Lin's third smash proved too difficult to return, extending his lead to 12-7. This point highlighted Lakshya's determined yet ultimately unsuccessful attempts to remain competitive against an opponent in exceptional form.

"I was unable to execute my game plan today. My movements felt sluggish. I had prepared for a strong match, and my strategy was sound, but today was not my day," Lakshya expressed with evident disappointment during the post-match interview.

This loss marked Lakshya's second consecutive first-round elimination, following a similar setback at the season-opening Malaysia Open against Chi Yu Jen, where unforced errors plagued his performance. Despite claiming to be 'fully prepared' before the match, Lakshya was outmatched by Lin's aggressive style and his struggles to adapt under pressure.

The initial game established the match's dynamics, with Lin quickly establishing an 8-3 lead through a mix of offensive shots and Lakshya's unforced errors. Although Lakshya briefly closed the gap, Lin maintained his dominance, ultimately winning the game 21-15. Reflecting on his performance, Lakshya recognized the deficiencies in his play.

"I struggled to make effective hits from the back in the first game. It was crucial to start strong and limit his opportunities. Today, matching his pace proved challenging," he remarked. "At times, I was able to contain him, but I could not do so consistently."

I did not receive the necessary support from the back in the initial match. It was crucial to begin strongly and limit his opportunities. Today, I found it challenging to keep up with his speed," he remarked. "At times, I managed to contain him, but I was unable to maintain that level of performance consistently."

Lakshya's recent difficulties underscore a wider trend of inconsistency following his campaign at the Paris Olympics. With only one title, the Syed Modi International, achieved during this timeframe, he has faced challenges in recapturing the form that propelled him to the semi-finals in Paris. His ongoing issues with unforced errors and the struggle to adjust to quicker opponents have further hindered his efforts to return to peak performance.

A day of mixed fortunes for India

Lakshya's defeat marked a difficult day for Indian badminton players, although there were glimpses of optimism. The women's doubles team of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto stood out, achieving a decisive victory with scores of 21-11 and 21-12 against their fellow countrywomen, Kavya Gupta and Radha Sharma. Unfortunately, the remainder of the Indian squad faced significant disappointments.

Malvika Bansod came remarkably close to achieving an upset against the third seed, Han Yue from China. She managed to save two game points in the first game and mounted a commendable comeback from 7-14 to 16-16 in the second. However, Han's greater consistency ultimately led to Malvika's defeat, with scores of 20-22, 21-16, and 21-11 after a contest lasting one hour and six minutes.

Priyanshu Rajawat also displayed a commendable effort against the sixth seed and 2023 World Championships silver medalist, Kodai Naraoka. The Indian player saved a match point in the second game, pushing the match to a deciding game, but ultimately lost with scores of 21-16, 22-20, and 21-13 in a challenging one hour and 22 minutes.

For HS Prannoy, returning to competition after recovering from chikungunya, his match against Su Li Yang of Chinese Taipei tested both his fitness and skill. Although he won the first game, Prannoy eventually fatigued, resulting in a loss with scores of 16-21, 21-18, and 21-12 after one hour and 13 minutes.

Prannoy made his return to the sport following the Paris Olympics earlier this month at the Malaysia Open, where he reached the round of 16. He acknowledged that he is currently at '60 to 70 per cent' of his fitness levels after his challenging recovery from chikungunya.

The illness had considerably affected his performance during the Paris Olympics, where he was defeated by his compatriot HS Prannoy in the knockout stage.

Currently, the seasoned Indian badminton player is concentrating on one tournament at a time; the lack of a long-term objective—specifically the Olympics—provides him with greater clarity regarding his focus on both fitness and performance.

"I believe my targets are quite short-term at the moment, and I am not planning too far ahead due to the events of the past year," Prannoy stated after the match, admitting that he is presently at "60 to 70 per cent" of his optimal fitness. The experienced shuttler underscored the importance of concentrating on individual tournaments as he worked towards his return to competitive badminton.

As the tournament advances, attention turns to the other Indian contenders. On Day 3, India's leading female shuttler PV Sindhu takes the spotlight as she faces Japan's Suizu Manami, while the men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty aims for a place in the quarter-finals.

The last remaining Indian competitor in the men's singles category, Kiran George, is set to compete against world number 17 Alex Lenier from France.

Axelsen battles but enters RO16

In the opening round of the men's singles competition, Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen staged a remarkable comeback after losing the first game, ultimately overcoming Chi Yu Jen from Taipei with scores of 16-21, 21-11, and 21-13. Meanwhile, An Se Young secured victory against Chiu Pin-Chian of Taipei, winning with a scoreline of 22-20, 21-15.

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