Exhausted Lakshya finishes runner-up again, Lin wins

The tank empty after a marathon semi-final, he lost to Taipei’s Lin Chun-yi in straight games in the All England final

- Sandip Sikdar

Chinese Taipei's champion Lin Chun-Yi (R) and India's Lakshya Sen, who finished runner-up at the All England Open.

(AP)

With Lakshya Sen unable to retrieve the powerful smash, Lin Chun-yi fell to the floor in delight. The world No.11 had not just battled Lakshya but his nerves as well to clinch the men’s singles crown at the All England Open Badminton Championships, the biggest title of his career yet.

At the other end was Lakshya. Hands on knees, staring at the floor, still digesting a second loss in the final of the Super 1000 event after a 2022 runner-up finish. But the exhausted world No.12 knew he had given it all despite his tired body in the 15-21, 20-22 loss at Birmingham on Sunday. It was never going to be easy after that brutal semifinal against Canada’s Victor Lai that lasted an hour and 37 minutes and so it proved.

“It was a good match. He was the better player in the first game, but in the second I could have finished off better. I’m happy with the way I played through the week. I’m feeling emotional now, thinking about the match. But overall, lots of positive things,” said Lakshya.