BWF World Championships: It was a historic Friday for Indian badminton as for the first time India will have two men’s semifinalists in the BWF World Championships assuring India of two medals. Lakshya Sen became the youngest Indian male shuttler to reach the last four of the competition while Kidambi Srikanth produced more of the form that saw him become the World No 1 to join the 20-year-old in the semifinal stage. Follow BWF World Championships updates on InsideSport.IN
Both will face each other for a place in the final, assuring one Indian male shuttler will contest the final. India are assured of at least a silver now. However, their victories came in contrasting fashion. The two join the legendary Prakash Padukone (bronze in 1983) and B Sai Praneeth (bronze in 2019) as the Indian male medal winners at the showpiece event.
BWF World Championships: Brave Lakshya impresses coach, sets up all India semifinal with red-hot Kidambi Srikanth
Lakshya Sen beat Zhao Jun Peng of China 21-15, 15-21, 22-20 in a thrilling contest that lasted over 67 minutes. The young shuttler even had to save a match point enroute to setting up a semifinal clash against his compatriot.
Lakshya has shown tremedous fighting spirit in the last two matches of the competition, a trait that has pleasantly surprised his coach Vimal Kumar.
BWF World Championships: Brave Lakshya impresses coach, sets up all India semifinal with red-hot Kidambi Srikanth
“His fighting spirt has really surprised me and I’m delighted for him. He deserves the plaudits and the future is bright for him,” a delighted Vimal Kumar told InsideSport.
Lakshya spoke to BWF after his marathon encounter and detailed what was going through his mind especially at the end while speaking in glowing terms about his compatriot Kidambi Srikanth who he is going to face in the semis.
“I was confident in rallying it out. Both of us made some mistakes. At 20-all I slipped but I managed to pull off a winner and I got a bit lucky.
BWF World Championships: Brave Lakshya impresses coach, sets up all India semifinal with red-hot Kidambi Srikanth
“I haven’t played Srikanth in three years, it’s been a while, so it will be a good match. He’s playing really well, he’s beaten opponents in single digits this week. I’m also playing well, and we both play an attacking style. Let’s see who makes the final. India is assured of a finalist, so that’s a good thing. I will go all out,” Lakshya commented.
Just thrilling! Lakshya Sen 🇮🇳 turns the match around and is through to an all-Indian semifinal against Kidambi Srikanth.
Follow live action: https://t.co/TjoFnU4PnB#BWFWorldChampionships #Huelva2021 pic.twitter.com/IlrdMV09w2
— BWF (@bwfmedia) December 17, 2021
Kidambi Srikanth, the 12th seed, absolutely decimated Mark Caljouw 21-8, 21-7 in a dominant display and the contest ended in just 26 minutes.
BWF World Championships: Brave Lakshya impresses coach, sets up all India semifinal with red-hot Kidambi Srikanth
It has been a remarkable tournament so far for Kidambi. He reached Spain at the last moment after visa issues but has not let that affect him. He is playing like the Srikanth of old and is in supreme form, something that will only aid him as he looks to climb up the rankings.
“I just told myself I had to be in the match, I didn’t want to give a big lead or make easy mistakes, I had to be focussed,” said Srikanth.
“I’m happy to reach this stage. Coming into this tournament, I was only thinking of the first round. From there it was only about the next match.”
BWF World Championships: Brave Lakshya impresses coach, sets up all India semifinal with red-hot Kidambi Srikanth
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