Canada Open 2023: Lakshya Sen beats All England champion Li Shi Feng in straight sets to clinch the title

On July 10, Indian Badminton player Lakshya Sen defeated China’s Li Shi Feng in straight sets 21-18 and 22-20 to clinch the men’s singles title at the Canada Open 2023.

The 21-year-old from Almora, who had claimed his maiden Super 500 title at the 2022 India Open, mixed incredible speed and power to outshine reigning All England champion Feng in the summit clash.

Sen gave ample display of his temperament as he saved four game points in the second game to grab a championship point and sealed it on very first opportunity with a smash and collapsed on the court in relief and happiness after an intense match.

The duo played some extraordinary rallies, filled with fast-paced exchanges at the net and it was Sen, who kept things tight to notch up his fifth win in seven meetings against the Chinese.

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Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Lakshya Sen secured his second BWF World Tour after winning the Indian Open in 2022.

In the Round of 32 in the Canada Open, Lakshya Sen’s opening match was against Thailand’s badminton player Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Sen defeated him 21-18 and 21-15. He is also the second singles player from the country to win a title this year, following HS Prannoy’s victory at Malaysia Masters in May.

In Round 16, Lakshya Sen faced Brazil’s Ygor Coelho de Oliveira. Sen triumphed over him by winning 21-15 and 21-11.

In the quarter-final match, he faced German badminton player Julien Carraggi. This was the only match of Lakshya Sen which went into the third set in the Canada Open. Sen won the first set by 21-8 but in the second set, the German gave a tough fight and won the stage by 21-17. Eventually, Sen flexed his muscles in the third set by winning 21-10.

In the semi-final, the 21-year-old trounced Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto by 21-17 and 21-14.

In the final Lakshya faced China’s Li Shi Feng and outclassed him by winning in straight sets 21-18 and 22-20.

Meanwhile, double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu failed to book a finale ticket after losing 14-21 15-21 to world No. 1 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in her women’s singles semifinal.