Auckland: Teenage shuttler Lakshya Sen reaffirmed his status as one of India’s rising talents as he gave legendary Lin Dan a scare before losing in three games at the Auckland Open Badminton Championship, here Thursday.
Up against two-time Olympic champion Dan, 17-year-old Lakshya gave a fantastic account of himself by pocketing the first game but eventually lost out on experience and bowed out 21-15, 15, 21, 12-21 in a marathon second round men’s singles match that lasted 67 minutes.
“Good Match against the Legend Lin Dan..gave my best shot!! have realised that i still have a long way to go!!,” Lakshya tweeted after the match.
Third seeded B Sai Praneeth and Sameer Verma however won their respective matches in straight games to enter the quarterfinals.
Sai Praneeth defeated Malaysia’s Darren Liew 21-18, 21-7, while fifth seed Sameer Verma got the better of Cheuk Yiu Lee of Hong Kong 21-17, 21-19 to seal their last eight berths. However, Ajay Jayram lost to Kwang Hee Heo of Korea 21-15, 20-22. 6-21 in another marathon second round match.
The men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy, seeded fifth, also entered the quarterfinals with 21-9, 21-12 win over Thailand’s Pakin Kuna-Anuvit and Natthapat Trinkajee. However, the women’s doubles combo of Meghana Jakkampudi and S Ram Poorvisha crashed out in the second round losing 5-21, 6-21 against top seeds Della Destiara Haris and Rizki Amelia Pradipta of Indonesia.
Results (Singles only)
B Sai Praneeth bt Darren Liew 21-18, 21-7
Sameer Verma bt Cheuk Yiu Lee 21-17, 21-19
Lakshya Sen lost to Lin Dan 21-15, 15, 21, 12-21
Ajay Jayaram lost to Kwang Hee Heo 21-15, 20-22. 6-21
Press Trust of India