India’s badminton stars, PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, are looking to regain their form as they head into the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament, starting Tuesday. Both players have faced challenges in their recent performances, struggling to close out crucial matches since the Paris Olympics, where their results fell short of expectations.
PV Sindhu, after a difficult season start, and Lakshya Sen, who faced early exits in recent tournaments, will hope to put past disappointments behind them and make strong comebacks.
PV Sindhu quest for consistency
After a surprise first-round loss to Canada’s Michelle Li at the Arctic Open, PV Sindhu showed glimpses of her potential by reaching the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open Super 750. However, her campaign was halted by Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who clinched a hard-fought victory in the decider.
Despite the loss, Sindhu remains optimistic, attributing her progress to intense preparations with her new coaches, Anup Sridhar and Korean legend Lee Syun Il.
“I’m in good shape, physically and mentally fit,” shared Sindhu. “We’ve been working on different aspects, like speed and defence. I hope to perform well in Japan and China with their guidance.” Sindhu is set to face Thailand’s eighth-seeded Busanan Ongbamrungphan in her opening match, where a solid performance could boost her confidence as she looks to build momentum.
Lakshya Sen focused on mental resilience
Lakshya Sen has encountered his own struggles in recent outings, facing back-to-back early exits at the Arctic Open and Denmark Open. The 23-year-old’s losses to Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen and China’s Lu Guang Zu highlighted his need for mental resilience to clinch closely contested matches.
The talented shuttler will start his Kumamoto Masters campaign against Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, with a possible showdown against eighth-seeded Indonesian Anthony Ginting in the next round. Known for his aggressive playstyle, Lakshya is keen to demonstrate his readiness to compete among the world’s best despite his recent challenges.
Women’s Doubles Team ready for action
India’s women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are also set to participate at the Kumamoto Masters. They will face the Taipei duo of Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun in their opening round, adding to the Indian representation in Japan.
As Sindhu, Lakshya, and the doubles team embark on their Kumamoto Masters journey, they will not only be seeking victories but also working to rediscover the form and confidence that propelled them to the international spotlight.
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