Lakshya Sen to face Viktor Axelsen in the final of All England Open 2022 in Birmingham.
World Championship bronze medalist Lakshya Sen enters the final of All England Open Badminton Championship and becomes India’s youngest shuttler to qualify for it on Saturday.
Sen becomes the fourth Indian men’s player passing Prakash Nath, Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand. Amongst them Padukone and Gopichand were the two Indians to have won the title.
The 20-year-old outwit defending champion Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia by 21-13, 12-21, 21-19 in the semifinals match played yesterday.
Twitter link:
What have we just witnessed ?
Lakshya Sen is through to the YONEX All England final after beating Lee Zii Jia.
AMAZING! #YAE22 pic.twitter.com/EiKKPzQrB7
— ? Yonex All England Badminton Championships ? (@YonexAllEngland) March 19, 2022
He has been in a great form since last six months. It all started from him securing his maiden bronze medal in World Championship in December. Winning his first Super 500 title at India Open in January with a runner-up title at the German Open last week.
Sen is the first Indian male shuttler in 21 long years after Gopichand (2001) to reach the finals of the tournament. If he wins the title tonight, he’ll become the third Indian men’s single player to win the prestigious title.
As excited as it sounds Sen expressed, “I am happy that I won the match and I get to play tomorrow. I will take this time to recover and go all out tomorrow.”
Lakshya Sen vs Viktor Axelsen
India has waited for 21 long years to win All England final. Saina Nehwal was the first and only Indian female shuttler to have contested for the tournament in 2015.
And as the game proceeds today Sen will face Viktor Axelsen in the final match on Sunday evening in Birmingham. The last time Sen defeated Olympic champion Axelsen out of the five times they met face to face was last week in German Open.
Sen is fearless but looking at both the finalists’ league matches, it would not be easy for Sen to defeat Axelsen. It would require his gutted spirit and A-one game to show it all tonight.
Published By: Manan Khurana
Edited By: Khushi Thakur
