Lakshya Sen Upsets Antonsen to Reach Badminton Quarterfinals; Satwik-Chirag Pair Also Progress
India’s shuttlers continue their impressive run as Sen upsets world No. 2 Anders Antonsen and Satwik-Chirag maintain winning streak in men’s doubles.
India, Oct 17 : Lakshya Sen delivered a sensational performance on Thursday, defeating second seed and world number two Anders Antonsen in straight games to reach the quarterfinals of the men’s singles at the ongoing badminton tournament.
The world number 21 Sen showcased exceptional composure and tactical maturity, overpowering Antonsen 21-13, 21-14 in a 53-minute second round clash. With precise net play, sharp smashes, and clever variations in pace, the 23-year-old kept the Dane constantly on the back foot throughout the match.
Sen had begun his campaign with a confident win over Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen in the opening round and will now face the winner of the encounter between China’s Weng Hong Yang and France’s Alex Lanier in the quarterfinals. His victory marks one of the most dominant wins over a top-ranked opponent this season, signaling a strong return to form after an injury-affected period.
In men’s doubles, India’s top pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also advanced to the quarterfinals with a straight-games win against Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan. The sixth-seeded duo triumphed 21-19, 21-17 in a 41-minute contest, relying on aggressive net play and solid court coverage during crucial points.
Satwik and Chirag had previously defeated Scotland’s Christopher and Matthew Grimley in the opening round, continuing their impressive run in the tournament.
