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Indian badminton heavyweights PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen stormed into the pre-quarterfinals of the ladies’s and males’s singles occasions respectively with some terrific performances. Whereas Sidhu was the favorite going into the encounter, Lakshya needed to face the third seed Jonatan Christie in his remaining group recreation. Lakshya did not simply march previous the Indonesian famous person with a straight units victory, but in addition displayed the sort of pictures that left the whole Indian sporting fraternity in awe. In reality, one ‘behind-the-back shot’ from Lakshya went viral on social media to the extent that industrialist Anand Mahindra requested his opponent Christie to file a swimsuit in opposition to the Indian.
Sen was merely sensational in his 21-18 21-12 thrashing of Indonesia’s world quantity 4 Jonatan Christie, the reigning All England and Asian champion. Mahindra, seeing Sen’s gameplay, mentioned that the younger shuttler would possibly as properly be an alien with three fingers.
“If I used to be his opponent, I might cry foul & file a swimsuit claiming that I used to be confronted by an unnatural opponent who possessed three arms…,” he wrote on X (previously Twitter).
If I used to be his opponent, I might cry foul & file a swimsuit claiming that I used to be confronted by an unnatural opponent who possessed three arms…
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 31, 2024
“I feel it was a troublesome match as we speak, pleased with the way in which I performed,” world quantity 22 Sen mentioned.
“Sure, undoubtedly (gold is in sight). I feel the previous few months the shape has been actually good. There was ups and downs, however total, I used to be in fine condition in the previous few months, and particularly whereas taking part in right here within the French Open, I discovered my momentum and from.
“I used to be simply attempting to construct up for a superb occasion and I am actually pumped as much as battle each match and each level.”
Whereas Sen will face HS Prannoy in an all-Indian contest subsequent, Sindhu is prone to be up in opposition to world quantity 9 Chinese language He Bingjiao, in opposition to whom she has misplaced 11 instances and gained on 9 events.
The one time Sen had defeated Christie was 4 years in the past on the Badminton Asia Group Championships and got here into this match with a dismal 1-4 head-to-head rely.
Nevertheless, Sen confirmed nice maturity and tactical acumen as he tried to maintain the shuttle flat and focused the weak forehand of Christie, who regarded to decelerate the rallies and used his cross-court pictures on the corners to hassle the Indian, albeit with out a lot success.
Within the first recreation, Christie opened up a 8-2 lead. Nevertheless, Sen regrouped shortly, saved the shuttle flat and waited for his opponent to make errors. Quickly he moved to 7-8 earlier than a thunderous forehand smash earned the Indian a slim one-point benefit.
Sen engaged Christie in quick and flat exchanges to maneuver to 14-12 however the Indonesian drew parity at 16-16 with a exact cross-court smash, which a diving Sen could not attain and shortly eked out a two-point lead at 18-16. A straight smash from Sen was adopted by a large smash from Christie, and it was 18-18.
An ideal flat push after which an unbelievable behind-the-back return in the midst of the subsequent rally gave Sen recreation level and he transformed it simply.
After the change of sides, Sen made some judgment errors as the 2 have been tied 3-3. The Indian saved peppering the again courtroom together with his pushes and smashes and performed at a excessive tempo. His reflex defence was additionally rock strong as he moved to 10-5.
One other error from Christie, and it was a five-point benefit for Sen on the midway mark. The Indian saved his opponent at bay with a barrage of strokes and did not enable him to return to the online.
The Indonesian made too many errors in desperation, lacking the strains usually as Sen moved to 18-12. One other flat change ended on the web as Sen inched nearer to the road.
One other lengthy rally ended with a protracted shot for the Indonesian as Sen grabbed eight match factors and when the Indonesian despatched one other to the online, the Indian rejoiced.
With PTI Inputs
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