Lakshya Sen: What has gone wrong with the promising badminton star?
There's no hiding from the fact that the metallic wand which once worked like a charm for Lakshya Sen is no longer producing the same magic. In recent months, Sen has experienced more setbacks than successes. From coming agonisingly close to Olympic glory to faltering in the early rounds of tournaments, the shuttler has seen a significant dip in form.Following the Paris Games, where he finished fourth, Sen struggled to string together wins. Back-to-back early exits at the Kumamoto Masters, Denmark Open, and Arctic Open raised concerns. A striking pattern in his defeats was his tendency to lose from advantageous positions—he let two matches slip away despite being a game up.advertisementHowever, Sen briefly redeemed himself by clinching his first Syed Modi International title. The comeback was short-lived, as he delivered underwhelming performances in the All England Open, Asia Championships, and Thailand Open. His rough patch has lasted longer than anyone anticipated.
When an athlete endures a prolonged slump, the conversation typically centres around two possibilities: is it a technical flaw or a mental block? In Sen's case, it appears to be more of a mental challenge—at least according to his coach, Vimal Kumar. Vimal believes that Sen needs to change his mindset on court, which could be the key to unlocking the consistent results that have eluded him of late."He needs to overcome how to deal with a particular situation. I have talked to him enough on that. He also knows but has to apply himself and get that thing done. Nobody else can. It's only his hands, how the thought process happens and how he deals with it,' Vimal told Hindustan Times.advertisementPrakash Padukone had earlier stated that it was in fact on the players to introspect, and find a way to win.'The players need to introspect, and not just keep asking for more from the federations. They need to ask themselves whether they are working hard enough. Ultimately the responsibility is on the players to go and deliver when it matters the most," Padukone had expressed after Sen's loss in the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics.At the Paris Olympics, Sen emerged as India's best-performing badminton player, defeating several higher-ranked opponents during an impressive run. Hailed as a future champion by none other than Viktor Axelsen, Sen now faces a formidable challenge—not just to overcome his mental block, but to do what champions are known for: win consistently.Written by Sidharth GulatiMust Watch
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