PETALING JAYA: Ten first-round exits would break most players but not men singles shuttler Lakshya Sen (pic).
The Indian ace refused to bow to a season of setbacks, and finally earned his reward by clinching the Australian Open title yesterday in Sydney by turning a year of struggle into a triumphant finish.
The 24-year-old national No. 1 swept past Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 in just 38 minutes to win his first title of the year and his first outside India since the 2023 Canada Open.
Lakshya had battled fever before his semi-final but still dug deep to outlast veteran Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan in a gruelling 68-minute duel.
Despite injuries and disruptions, Lakshya insisted the fire never went out.
“I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs this season, with injuries at the start, but I kept my hard work going,” said Lakshya, whose back problem had halted his rhythm.
“I’m very happy to end the season on a good note.
“I’m excited for next year and proud of the way I played this week.”
The bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics will be one of the stars to watch when he heads to Malaysia next year January, aiming to inject more flair into the men’s singles scene and prove his spark remains intact.
