Lakshya Sen reaches Kumamoto Masters final after beating Alwi Farhan

Match Details

Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen defeated World No 10 Alwi Farhan 21-12, 15-21, 21-10 to reach the final of the Kumamoto Masters. The hard-fought match lasted seventy minutes. Sen played a fast-paced doubles-style drive game to beat the Indonesian opponent, securing his second successive Super 500 final appearance.

Strategy And Tactics

Sen used fast pushes and kept the shuttle straight and snappy to deny Alwi the altitude needed for his lofted lifts. The Indian player also dominated the net and played parallel shots that troubled the taller opponent. By starving Alwi of attack opportunities, Sen frustrated the Indonesian player who is known for his powerful smashes reaching up to 422 kilometers per hour. Sen built a strong 16-9 lead in the deciding set and maintained his momentum through sharp reflex backhand flicks.

Context

This victory helps Lakshya Sen strengthen his claims for a spot at the World Tour Finals, though he still needs to stave off competition from Japan's Koki Watanabe. Tournaments on the World Tour circuit award crucial ranking points that determine qualification for the season-ending finals.