Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen secured a hard-fought place in the men’s singles final of the Australian Open Super 500 on Saturday, overcoming world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling three-game semifinal. The 2021 World Championships bronze-medallist, who recovered from a first-game deficit, prevailed 17-21, 24-22, 21-16 in an 86-minute contest, showcasing his composure and mental toughness on a big stage.
The win continues a strong run for Lakshya, who had earlier produced a commanding performance in the quarterfinals to beat compatriot Ayush Shetty in straight games. The seventh seed defeated Ayush 23-21, 21-11 in a 53-minute contest, overcoming a tense opening game before dominating the second. That victory had made him the lone Indian left in the men’s singles draw after early exits for senior pros H.S. Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth.
Carrying that momentum into the semifinals, Lakshya, 24, began shakily against Tien Chen as the Taiwanese star controlled the rallies with crisp shot selection and accuracy. Chou’s consistent play helped him establish an 11-6 lead at the mid-game interval before sealing the first game comfortably.
Lakshya, however, responded with renewed determination in the second game. He moved sharper, retrieved deeper, and pushed Chou into longer rallies. Despite trailing at several stages, he remained composed, saving multiple game points before clinching the game 24-22 to force a decider.
With the pressure shifting, Lakshya took charge in the third game. Strong net play, well-constructed attacking bursts, and rock-solid defence kept him ahead throughout as he closed out the match to book his place in Sunday’s summit clash. He will face either Japan’s Yushi Tanaka or Chinese Taipei’s fifth seed Lin Chun-Yi in the final.
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