Shuttler Lakshya Sen Loses In Semifinals Of King Cup International

India's Lakshya Sen bowed out in the semifinals of the inaugural King Cup International Badminton Open, suffering a straight-game loss to reigning world junior champion Hu Zhe'an of China in the men's singles on Saturday. The 23-year-old from Almora fought hard but couldn't overcome the relentless Hu, losing 19-21, 19-21 in a thrilling contest. The match saw both shuttlers locked in a tight battle, with little separating them throughout. Hu took a slender one-point advantage at the break after Lakshya's backhand went into the net.

The 18-year-old Hu, who made his international debut in 2022, continued to press on and clinched the opening game when Lakshya hit wide.

The second game followed a similar pattern, with the score tied at 6-6 before Hu surged ahead to 12-10. Lakshya managed to fight back, taking a three-point lead at 19-16, but Hu showcased his attacking prowess with powerful smashes and delicate drops, ultimately sealing the win.