Punjab Newsline, Sports:
Lakshya defeats Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh, Ayush Shetty beats Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in straight games
Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen made a strong start to the new season by advancing to the second round of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 tournament in men’s singles. In a first-round match played on Tuesday, Lakshya defeated Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh in a hard-fought encounter to secure his place in the next round. The match lasted nearly 70 minutes, during which Lakshya overcame the world No. 21 Teh with a scoreline of 21-16, 15-21, 21-14.
The contest witnessed intense competition right from the beginning, with both players displaying high-quality badminton. Lakshya started confidently in the opening game, using his attacking skills and court coverage effectively to take control and win the game 21-16. In the second game, Teh made a strong comeback, capitalising on a few unforced errors by Lakshya and playing with greater aggression to clinch the game 21-15, leveling the match.
In the deciding third game, Lakshya Sen showed his experience and composure. He maintained consistency in rallies, won crucial points at key moments, and gradually pulled away from his opponent. Lakshya sealed the decider 21-14 to wrap up the match and move into the second round of the prestigious tournament.
The 24-year-old Lakshya Sen has been in good form over the past year. In the previous season, he won the Australian Open title and also reached the final of the Hong Kong Open. A bronze medallist at the 2021 World Championships, Lakshya is currently ranked 13th in the world. In the second round, he will face Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu, who caused a major upset in the opening round by defeating sixth seed Christo Popov.
Meanwhile, in another men’s singles match, India’s Ayush Shetty also delivered an impressive performance to progress further in the tournament. Ayush defeated Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in straight games, winning 21-12, 21-17. His dominant display against a strong opponent has been one of the notable results of the opening round.
Ayush Shetty now faces a tough challenge in the second round, where he will take on China’s world No. 1 player Shi Yu Qi, making his upcoming match one of the most anticipated encounters for Indian badminton fans.