Lakshya Sen picked a Tremendous 500 title on the fag finish of a troublesome season of 2025, when again points daunted him. He spoke to The Indian Categorical concerning the doubts and uncertainty he confronted about returning to peak health, how his dazzling defensive dives are usually not show-boating, and why the loss to Chinese language Li Shifeng on the Hong Kong finals stung badly.
What was breakfast on the day you hammered Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 in Australia Open ultimate?
Nothing out of the extraordinary — I stored to my common routine. I had oats and eggs. It’s easy, but it surely provides me sustained vitality with out making me really feel too heavy.
What was the worst day of 2025?
To be trustworthy, the worst day was early within the season once I was battling niggling accidents — particularly my again problem. As I stated earlier than, I had a couple of accidents at the beginning of the season, and a few of these moments had been actually irritating. There have been occasions once I doubted if I might get again to the place I needed to be.
Two gorgeous defensive masterclasses — at Hong Kong and at Sydney. What’s your mindset in lengthy, punishing rallies?
My mindset is all the time to remain within the level, keep affected person. Once I know my opponent gained’t quit simply and we commerce actually lengthy rallies, I’ve to anticipate that the shuttle would come again. So I attempt to soak up, defend, after which choose my moments to assault. I don’t attempt to win each rally with a smash; I wish to make my opponent work, power errors, after which pounce.”
Most painful a part of damage administration?
It’s not simply the bodily ache. The toughest half is the uncertainty — questioning how lengthy restoration will take, whether or not I’ll come again at full pace, and never having the ability to compete at my high degree. On high of that, there’s the frustration of doing all of the rehab, working exhausting in coaching, however generally nonetheless feeling restricted.
Lakshya Sen celebrates after profitable the Sathio Australian Open 2025 MS title. (Badminton Picture)
Coach Yong-sung’s most essential recommendation within the Australian week / within the ultimate?
Coach Yoo (Yoo Yong-sung) has been a pillar for me. One key factor he stored telling me was: play one level at a time. He jogged my memory to concentrate on the method, not the scoreboard. Once I constructed that lead within the second set, he advised me to not chill out, to remain sharp. That stayed in my thoughts: don’t let your head drift, simply maintain executing level by level.
Do you apply dives & bouncing again in your toes?
Sure, in coaching we work on defensive restoration lots — not simply dives but additionally easy methods to rise up cleanly, easy methods to reposition, easy methods to be prepared for the following shot. It’s not about show-boating; it’s about minimizing danger, however being ready to stretch, get well, and proceed the rally if wanted.
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I truly prepare to keep away from diving! I’ve been engaged on footwork and shifting with the appropriate step ahead and sideways to play returns on my foot (and never scrambling on fours). Diving comes naturally to me. But when I’ve to have an extended profession, I can’t be doing these issues at age 30. There’s lots of likelihood of accidents. When taking part in if the shuttle goes previous you, it’s good to put within the dive and take it. However I prepare to keep away from it.
Did you verify your medal, given Malaysian Chen Tang Jie had ended up with one which had ‘males’s singles’ inscribed on it?
(Laughs). Sure, as quickly as I arrive. However I obtained my proper medal for males’s singles. Perhaps they’d further males’s singles medals, and everybody was males’s singles winner!
What was hardest lack of the yr?
I feel the hardest was in Hong Kong, shedding the ultimate to Li Shi Feng. That match was a giant check — not simply bodily however mentally. I had performed some lengthy factors, had my probabilities, however I couldn’t shut it out. It stung, but it surely additionally taught me lots about match temperament and easy methods to deal with strain in massive moments.