Canadian badminton player Victor Lai, currently world No. 7, expresses his ambition to become world No. 1. He acknowledges the challenge from established stars and welcomes the rise of a new generation of young shuttlers. Lai highlights his recent Super 1000 title win and his breakthrough at the India Open as crucial steps in his mental and professional growth.
'Self-funded is a big one. We don't travel as a team so we don't have a therapist, treatment support or a trainer. A lot of times you're training on your own and it's tough.'
Lakshya Sen defeated Victor Lai to reach the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships, marking his second final appearance in the prestigious tournament.
Lakshya Sen faced an early exit from the China Masters after a straight-games defeat to Canada's Victor Lai, marking his third loss to the Canadian. Meanwhile, Kidambi Srikanth secured his spot in the second round by defeating Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei. India's mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also advanced.
Veteran Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth defeated world No. 9 Victor Lai of Canada in straight games to advance to the men's singles quarterfinals of the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament. Srikanth secured a 21-18, 21-19 victory and will next face Lee Cheuk Yiu. Other Indian participants, Tanvi Sharma in women's singles and Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto in mixed doubles, were eliminated.
Indian badminton players experienced mixed results at the China Masters, with Kidambi Srikanth and Tanvi Sharma securing straight-game victories to advance to the second round. However, Lakshya Sen, a former world championships medallist, suffered an early exit after a disappointing performance against Canada's Victor Lai. Several Indian doubles pairs also saw varied outcomes in their opening matches.
Indian badminton star Kidambi Srikanth was defeated by Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu in straight games during the quarterfinals of the China Masters Super 750. Srikanth, a former world No.1, lost 16-21, 16-21 in a 39-minute match, ending his campaign despite a strong performance in the previous round.
India secured a 4-1 victory against Canada in their opening Group A tie of the Thomas Cup Finals, with wins from Ayush Shetty and the doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
India's badminton contingent is set to begin its Asian Games campaign, with the men's team aiming to improve on their previous silver medal and the women's team seeking a second medal. Key players like Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag, PV Sindhu, and Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand are expected to lead the charge against strong opponents like Japan, China, and Korea in both team and individual events.
India's top men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, fought hard to defeat Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, securing their spot in the China Masters Super 750 semifinals. This victory continues their strong performance following recent successes. Meanwhile, veteran Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth's journey in the men's singles quarter-finals concluded after a straight-games loss to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu.
Former badminton coach Vimal Kumar expresses optimism about India's medal prospects at the upcoming Asian Games, suggesting they can surpass their previous tally of three. He stresses the critical need for Indian singles players, including Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty, to overcome inconsistencies and deliver under pressure. Kumar also highlights the challenges posed by the new 15-point format and the highly competitive nature of men's singles badminton.
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu was defeated by local favourite Chen Yufei in the second round of the China Open. Sindhu, who recently won the Japan Open, lost a close three-game match. Following her exit, she publicly criticised the tournament's scheduling, highlighting the inadequate recovery time she received compared to her opponent. Other Indian shuttlers Ayush Shetty and Lakshya Sen also exited the men's singles.
Former mentor Vimal Kumar praises Lakshya Sen's resilience and courage in reaching the All England Open final, highlighting his determination despite physical challenges.
India secured an unassailable 3-1 lead against Canada in their opening Group tie of the Thomas Cup Finals, with key wins from Ayush Shetty and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
Lakshya Sen defeated China's Li Shi Feng to reach the semifinals of the All England Open, continuing his impressive run in the tournament.
Lakshya Sen battled through painful blisters and severe cramps to defeat Victor Lai and reach the All England Open final, bringing him one step closer to ending India's 25-year wait for the title.
Lakshya Sen overcame painful blisters and severe cramps to defeat Victor Lai and reach the All England Open final, bringing him closer to ending India's 25-year wait for the title.
Lakshya Sen defeated Li Shifeng in straight games to reach the semifinals of the All England Open.
But it was end of the road for Sen's compatriot Kiran George, who lost 20-22, 10-21 to Malaysia's Jing Hong Kok.
Lakshya Sen's quest for the All England Open title ended in a final defeat to Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi, extending India's wait for a champion in the prestigious tournament.
Kidambi Srikanth went down fighting to Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 21-19, 14-21, 18-21 in the semi-finals of the Canada Open Super 300 badminton tournament in Calgary on Saturday.
Lakshya Sen ends runner-up at All England Open, loses men's singles final 15-21 20-22 to Lin Chun-Yi.
Lakshya Sen's quest for the All England title ended in a narrow defeat to Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in a thrilling final marked by high-intensity rallies and attacking play.
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Satwik and Ashwini, who reached the semi-finals at Toyota Thailand Open Super 1000 in January, will meet the winner of the match between fifth-seeded Malaysians Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing and Germany's Jones Ralfy Jansen and Kilasu Ostermeyer.
Forced to play their home matches in Malaysia due to security concerns, Syria had fallen behind when Robbie Kruse tapped in from close range in the first half but the underdogs refused to buckle to their vastly more experienced opponents.
Talented photographers from across the world have been named as winners of diverse open categories at the Sony World Photography Awards -- and the champions were judged on just a single image. Faced with hundreds of thousands of entries, the judges have chosen a winner for each of ten categories that include architecture, culture and landscape. Also announced were the winners of the National Awards. Chosen from the same pool of images as the open competition, the National Award recognises the best entrant from each of 62 countries.
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