Lakshya Sen Falls Short in Thrilling India Open Quarterfinal

In a nail-biting encounter at the India Open Super 750, Lakshya Sen came tantalizingly close to victory before succumbing to Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in the quarterfinals on Friday. Despite a valiant effort, the 24-year-old Almora native was edged out 21-17, 13-21, 18-21 in a match lasting 68 minutes.

Sen, a bronze medallist at the 2021 World Championships, expressed regret over missed opportunities. 'I could have been more clinical towards the end,' he said. The contest, marked by high-quality rallies and strategic exchanges, saw Sen initially taking control before Lin's precise plays sealed his fate.

The match saw numerous intense rallies, including a gruelling 54-shot exchange. However, Sen's difficulty in adapting to the court's wind conditions proved costly as crucial errors in the second game allowed Lin to claw back and eventually win the decisive third set.