Star shuttler Lakshya Sen experienced a heartbreaking exit from the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament in Jakarta on Friday, falling to Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the quarterfinals of the men’s singles event. Despite a valiant effort, the world no. 14 succumbed to a 22-24, 18-21 defeat against the fifth-ranked Antonsen in a gruelling match that lasted just over an hour. With Sen’s defeat, India’s campaign in the tournament came to an end.
Lakshya Sen succumbers to straight defeats
The first game was a nail-biter, with both players unwilling to concede ground. Antonsen surged to an early 4-0 lead, but Sen quickly levelled the scores at 5-5 and then pushed ahead to a 15-11 advantage.
However, the Dane utilized his reach and endurance, engaging Sen in long rallies to tie the score at 16-16. The battle continued fiercely up to 22 points before Sen faltered, allowing Antonsen to clinch the first game.
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The second game was equally intense, showcasing both Sen and Antonsen’s determination and skill. They matched each other point for point until they reached 18 points.
Unfortunately, Sen committed a few unforced errors in the final moments, while Antonsen remained composed, winning three consecutive points to secure the match. He now advances to face Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the eighth seed, in the semifinals of the tournament.