Lakshya Sen's stunning 'behind-the-back¡¯ shot gets rave reviews¡ªbut did you know he was struggling at the start of the year?
Lakshya Sen delivered a stunning performance in his final group game yesterday, defeating World Number 3 Jonatan Christie in straight sets.
Sen's jaw-dropping "behind-the-back" shot was so spectacular that even industrialist Anand Mahindra couldn't resist commenting, quipping, "If I was his opponent, I would cry foul & file a suit claiming that I was confronted by an unnatural opponent who possessed three arms¡ "
It wasn't just Anand Mahindra¡ªpraise for Sen has been pouring in from all corners:
While everyone's praising Sen and rightly so, few know that at the start of this year, Lakshya Sen was grappling with significant challenges.?
His childhood coach, Vimal Kumar, had shared in an ESPN interview from January, "At the moment, he is low on confidence and he's not playing the right game."
Once a world junior No. 1 and decorated with titles like the 2018 Asian Junior Championships gold and a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold, Sen faced a tough period following a deviated nasal septum surgery in September of the same year and coaching challenges.
Sen parted ways with coach Anup Sridhar in January. Former India international Anup had joined the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru in 2022 to coach Lakshya Sen. However, they decided to part ways mutually after not meeting their set targets.
Post this, he reunited with his childhood coach Kumar and since then, Sen has been on a quest to reclaim his form.
Kumar noted that Sen's struggle was more mental than physical, emphasising, "He's a little anxious, and every athlete goes through this. It's about finding solutions and converting training into victories."
Sen's recent victory over World Number 3 Jonatan Christie not only signifies his return to form but also highlights his resilience.?
After a challenging period, this triumph and the awe-inspiring shots, including a stunning "behind-the-back" shot, mark a significant comeback.?
Speaking after the match, Sen said, "I was just trying to build up for a good event and I'm really pumped up to fight every match and every point."
Here's hoping this success is just the beginning, and a medal is right around the corner!
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