After dropping the India Open first spherical to Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese language Taipei final week, Lakshya Sen had mentioned that it “just wasn’t his day”. The worrying matter is that India’s high males’s singles shuttler hasn’t had many ‘good days’ because the Olympic Video games.
India’s Lakshya Sen misplaced within the first spherical of India Open. (PTI)
Since Paris, the world No.12 has performed in seven tournaments however solely reached the enterprise finish twice as he went down in early rounds in 5 occasions. Sen had an honest outing on the China Masters in November, reaching the quarters. Although he broke a 17-month title drought by profitable the Syed Modi India Worldwide final month, you will need to word that Sen was the highest seed on the Lucknow occasion the place he barely confronted any top-level competitors.
“Post the Olympics, he’s lost some very tough, close matches which he should’ve converted, something very similar to what happened at the Olympics. That similar thing continued for quite a few events i.e. being comfortably placed and then losing,” mentioned Sen’s coach U Vimal Kumar.
“He needs to overcome how to deal with that particular situation. We have talked to him enough on that. He also knows but has to apply himself and get that thing done. Nobody else can. It’s only his hands, how the thought process happens and how he deals with it.”
Sen got here near medalling on the Olympics when he nearly beat eventual champion Viktor Axelsen within the semis earlier than the Dane pulled via. He had one other likelihood within the bronze playoff when he was once more forward of Lee Zii Jia, however one other meltdown helped the Malaysian seize the medal.
Sen’s staff on the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) have mentioned with him to ‘get physically better’ in order that the 23-year-old is assured whereas attacking or defending about his physique and physique as situations fluctuate from one place to the opposite.
The Almora born can also be usually in contact together with his psychological well being skilled Gayatri Vartak, a former India shuttler, having additionally labored with famend psychological coach Paddy Upton earlier than the Olympics.
“Malaysia Open (Round 1 loss) was a disappointment. He played the match without any interest. We had a talk with him. I told him that at your level you cannot afford to do that, not in the big tournaments,” mentioned Vimal, who can also be a nationwide selector.
“I told him that when things go wrong, don’t get disheartened, just stick in there, keep at it, it will happen, because you’re good and have the experience, that you’ve dealt with such situations in the past also like in the beginning of last year.”
Sen was present process a particularly poor part on the finish of 2023 and early 2024 when he nearly fell out of the Race to Paris. Nevertheless, three stable tournaments in February-March of 2024 noticed him qualify for the Olympics in opposition to all odds.
“This (situation) is also similar. I told him immediately after the Olympics that the heartbreak and pain he had, he’ll only be able to get rid by winning a big event, either the All England or World Championships which he’s capable of. That is the only thing that is going to give him relief,” added Vimal, who’s the chief coach of PPBA.
“Because nobody can help him with that. He knows what needs to be done. He just has to be at it, convert the thinking process on court, needs to apply himself better. I always tell him that he played fearlessly, which was one of his strengths. To just enjoy playing tournaments even if things go wrong, how to wriggle out of it.”
With the burden of qualifying for the Olympics not there, Sen has a robust likelihood to returning to high kind like he did in 2022 when he gained the Commonwealth Video games and India Open aside from reaching the finals of All England and German Open.
“That is what Lakshya has to do now. He is in good physical shape and has trained well. The more matches he plays, the better he starts playing. But to get that he has to get past (early) rounds,” mentioned Vimal.
“That is something he needs to keep in mind and beat players who he is capable of beating. It is not easy, but he has to win matches. That is the only way. He needs to get it done on court. It is his initiative. Luckily for him, everybody is there to support him.”