India’s Lakshya Sen capped off a resurgent 2025 campaign in style on Sunday, clinching the Australian Open Super 500 title with a gritty three-game victory in Sydney. The win marks one of the biggest triumphs of his career and underlines his impressive late-season revival after months of inconsistency and injury setbacks.
Sen, seeded fifth, defeated Taiwan’s world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen 17–21, 24–22, 21–15 in a pulsating final that showcased his growing maturity, tactical clarity and refusal to yield in pressure moments.
The 24-year-old looked in real danger early on after losing the opening game and trailing for large stretches of the second. But he held his nerve during a tense phase at 20–20, saving a match point before forcing a decider, where his superior court coverage and sharper attacking play took over.
The win sealed a brilliant week for Sen, who had earlier beaten Chi Yu Jen in a draining second-round match and cruised past compatriot Ayush Shetty in the quarter-finals. His semi-final victory over Chou—also a three-game comeback—proved a critical psychological boost ahead of their rematch in the final.
A SIGN OF CONFIDENCE RETURNING
This triumph will feel particularly sweet for Sen, who spent much of the early season battling form issues and lingering disappointment from narrowly missing out on an Olympic medal in Paris last year. Frequent early exits in major tournaments and niggling injuries had kept him searching for rhythm.
But the world No. 13 has put together an impressive late surge: Champion – Australian Open Super 500, Semifinal – Japan Masters, Quarterfinal – Hylo Open
The Australian Open title—his first crown in 2025—signals that the former All England finalist is back among the elite contenders on the BWF World Tour.
EYEING A BIG 2026
With this victory, Sen is expected to push closer to a return to the top 10 of the world rankings, a target he has openly set for himself ahead of a pivotal 2026 season. The coming year features both the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, events where India traditionally banks on badminton medals.
If his form in Sydney is any indication, Lakshya Sen is peaking at just the right time—and Indian badminton may have its once-rising star shining bright again.
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