Lakshya Sen Falls Short in Arctic Open Thriller: A Tough Day for Indian Badminton Stars

In a gripping Arctic Open 2024 match, Commonwealth Games Champion Lakshya Sen was narrowly defeated by Chou Tien Chen, 19-21, 21-18, 21-15. Additional challenges arose for Indian players as Kiran George, Unnati Hooda, and Aakarshi Kashyap faced strong opponents in their respective matches.

Commonwealth Games Champion Lakshya Sen faced a challenging exit in the pre-quarterfinals of the ongoing Arctic Open 2024 badminton tournament on Thursday. The gripping match held in Vantaa saw world number 19 Sen bow out to 10th-ranked Chou Tien Chen after a marathon contest lasting one hour and 10 minutes.

Returning to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour since his Olympic setback in Paris, Sen started strong against Chou, showcasing tenacity and skill. Despite leading 13-7 in the opening exchanges, Sen couldn't sustain his momentum, eventually conceding defeat in a hard-fought battle.

The Indian contingent faced further hurdles as Kiran George lost to Indonesia's Asian champion Jonatan Christie. In women's singles, young sensation Unnati Hooda fell to Canada's Michelle Li while Aakarshi Kashyap and Malvika Bansod also suffered losses. Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath could not overcome their tough opponents.

(With inputs from agencies.)