Lakshya Sen, India’s badminton ace, made a game-changing net shot that helped India defeat Indonesia to win their first Thomas Cup. Now, the young player seems set to become the face of Indian badminton, with high hopes pinned on him for the future.
Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen, with his parents, during the launch of the redesigned newlook SPORTSTAR magazine, in Bengaluru.
Though born in the hilly town of Almora, Uttarakhand, Lakshya started training when he was just 10 years old at the prestigious Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru. Even though the move was initially worrying for his parents, he has stayed focussed on badminton all these years. Now at 21, Sen has already made a name for himself by beating some of the top names in badminton.
Currently ranked at 23 in the world, Lakshya promises to be the face of Indian badminton for the next decade. Along with H. S. Prannoy (9th), and Srikanth (22nd), he is among the only three Indian players to be placed in the top-25. With his talent and tenacity, he is sure to contribute significantly to Indian sports in the future.
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Sen is now eyeing a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, his immediate goal is to raise his ranking which has tumbled from a career-best No. 6 last November to 23. Sen plans to take part in the National trials for the Asian Games and focus on the Asian circuit events before heading for the US and Canada Open in July and August. This will be followed by the World Championship and the Asian games — all of which are going to be the real tests for the badminton star.
His early exits from tournaments since last August caused him to slip in rankings, below his seniors in the National team, Prannoy and Srikanth. However, Sen is focusing on the trial-and-error method and drawing from the positives of each match. He is also working hard on his body, making sure that he stays healthy and fit.
Notwithstanding his age, Lakshya has more experience than his peers. His on court demeanour, quick thinking, and sharp anticipation have turned him into a formidable player.
Lakshya’s quick thinking and sharp anticipation have turned him into a formidable player on the court. He draws inspiration and guidance from renowned coach Vimal Kumar and sports psychologist/mental trainer Gayatri Vartak. But he has his eyes set on the Paris podium, and is determined to stay focussed on his goals, while learning from every match.