At the Asian Games on Tuesday, Lakshya Sen produced the kind of performance that had been missing in recent weeks. Trailing in the deciding game against Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, the Indian shuttler dug deep, overturned a substantial deficit and delivered a victory that set India on course for a 3-0 win in the men’s team quarterfinals. The result not only propelled India into the semi-finals but also guaranteed the team a medal.
A Contest of Contrasting Halves
Sen faced a formidable opponent in Naraoka, a consistent top-10 player and two-time World Championships silver medallist. The opening game followed a familiar and worrying pattern for the Indian. Naraoka controlled the pace, exploited errors and closed it out 21-11. At that stage, another early exit appeared possible for a player who had been struggling for rhythm and confidence.
What followed was a complete shift in momentum. Sen returned for the second game with sharper movement and clearer intent. He dominated the exchanges, mixed his shots effectively and restricted Naraoka to just five points, winning 21-5. The turnaround was emphatic and suggested that the fight many had been waiting to see had finally returned.
The Decider: From the Brink to Triumph
The third game tested Sen’s resolve once more. Naraoka built a commanding lead and moved ahead to 19-13 or 19-14, according to different accounts of the scoreline at the critical moment. Two points from defeat, Sen refused to yield. He began retrieving everything, cutting out unforced errors and applying pressure with precise, flat returns and well-timed attacks.
From that precarious position he reeled off a sequence of consecutive points. Cross-court smashes, accurate placements to the corners and composed defence under pressure allowed him to draw level and then edge ahead. When Naraoka’s final shot found the net, Sen had completed a 21-19 victory in the decider. The match lasted a little over an hour and left the Indian bench elated.
The Significance of the Fight
What stood out was not merely the scoreline but the manner of the recovery. In recent outings Sen had often struggled to arrest sliding momentum once an opponent seized control. On this occasion he stayed patient, trusted his defence and waited for the right moments to strike. The composure in the closing stages, particularly the ability to win points in succession when the margin for error was minimal, marked a return to the resilient version of the player who had previously challenged the world’s best.
Those who watched the match noted the absence of dramatic celebration at the end. Sen absorbed the moment quietly, shook his opponent’s hand and shared a measured embrace with the coaching staff. The reaction spoke of relief as much as triumph—a recognition that the performance had answered questions about his current form.
India’s Collective Strength
Sen’s win gave India a 1-0 lead and shifted the psychological balance of the tie. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty followed with a hard-fought doubles victory over former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. Ayush Shetty then closed out the quarterfinal with a confident performance in the second singles, completing a 3-0 team triumph.
The result ensured India would finish on the podium in the men’s team event, matching their achievement from the previous Asian Games where they had claimed silver. Consistency at the continental level remains a benchmark for the Indian men’s team, and securing another medal underlined their depth and competitive maturity.
Context of Recent Struggles
Sen had arrived at the Asian Games carrying the burden of inconsistent results and physical concerns. Early exits and a lack of continuity in performance had raised doubts about his readiness for high-pressure assignments. The quarterfinal against Japan, played in front of a knowledgeable home crowd supporting Naraoka, represented a stern examination.
By responding with one of his most determined displays in months, Sen not only advanced India’s cause but also provided himself with a platform of confidence for the remainder of the competition. High-level badminton rewards the ability to solve problems mid-match; on Tuesday he demonstrated that capacity once again.
Looking Ahead
India’s progression into the semi-finals sets up further challenges against strong Asian opposition. For Sen, the immediate task will be to carry the same intensity and clarity into subsequent matches, whether in the team event or the individual draw. One strong performance does not erase earlier concerns, yet it can reset the narrative and remind both the player and his supporters of what he is capable of producing.
The version of Lakshya Sen that appeared against Kodai Naraoka was the one Indian badminton has been waiting to see: resilient under pressure, tactically disciplined and unwilling to accept defeat even when the scoreboard suggested otherwise. In a single afternoon in the Asian Games quarterfinals, he rediscovered the fight that defines his best tennis and, in doing so, helped secure another continental medal for India.
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