Saarbrücken (Germany), October 29: Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen produced a sensational performance to defeat World No. 7 Christo Popov of France in the opening round of the HYLO Open 2025, storming into the Round of 16 with a straight-game victory.
Sen, ranked No. 17 in the world, displayed remarkable composure and control throughout the contest, winning 21-16, 22-20 in a match that lasted just under 45 minutes. His win over the tournament’s fifth seed marks one of the biggest upsets of the event so far.
Commanding Start And Calm Finish
The 23-year-old Indian shuttler began confidently, pushing Popov to the backcourt and dictating rallies with sharp smashes and precise net play. Sen sealed the first game 21-16 before facing stiff resistance in the second. Popov fought back to level at 20-20, but Sen held his nerve to close the game 22-20, sealing a straight-games triumph.
Next Up: An all-Indian Clash
With this win, Sen has set up an all-Indian clash in the Round of 16 against S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, who also progressed with a straight-games victory in his opening encounter. He won the contest 21-14, 18-21, 21-16. The match promises to be an exciting battle between two of India’s brightest young talents.
Mixed Day For The Indian Camp
It was a mixed day for the Indian contingent as Kidambi Srikanth bowed out after a straight-games defeat to Kiran George, who advanced to the next round. Srikanth lost the contest 19-21, 11-21.
Road Ahead for Sen
Sen’s impressive victory over a top-10 opponent adds momentum to his 2025 season, reaffirming his potential to return to the world’s elite. With form and confidence on his side, the Almora-born shuttler will aim to carry this winning run deeper into the tournament.
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