Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth face off in historic BWF World Championship semifinal | Badminton News – Times of India

In this, the age of Bollywood’s hyper-nationalistic films on sports-related themes, try beating this script. Two Indians, one spot in the final, only one can go through. Who will you root for?
That’s what’s unfolding in the men’s singles draw at the World Championships in the Spanish port city of Huelva. An Indian shuttler will play the men’s final for the first time in the event.
What makes this feat doubly unique is that 20-year-old newbie Lakshya Sen finds himself facing grizzled veteran Kidambi Srikanth in an all-Indian semifinal. Whatever happens, one thing is certain. India is assured of at least two medals – a silver and a bronze.

A late twist to the plot was shelved, if you like, when HS Prannoy bowed 14-21, 12-21 to Singpore’s Kean Yew Loh in the last quarterfinal of the day.
There was some more disappointment in the women’s fray when reigning champion, PV Sindhu, was dethroned by former world No. 1 and top-seed, Tai Tzu Ying, 17-21, 13-21 in the singles quarterfinal, but Srikanth and Lakshya more than made up for it.
Should they do the unthinkable at Huelva, they would be emulating, even bettering, Prakash Padukone – at whose academy Lakshya trains – who won bronze in 1983 and Sai Praneeth’s 2019 bronze.

Former world No. 1 Srikanth is 28, the same age as Prakash when he claimed bronze 38 years ago.
“I wish Lakshya wins,” he had said after outclassing Dutchman Mark Caljouw of 21-8, 21-13 in the earlier quarterfinal. Lakshya did not disappoint him, becoming the youngest Indian to assure himself of a medal.
All eyes, then seem rivetted on the former legend Prakash’s ward.
From being left out of the Indian team to assuring himself of a medal at the Worlds, Lakshya’s has been a roller-coaster ride. Upset at losing the selection match for the Thomas Cup, Lakshya left Hyderabad in October, only to prove the selectors wrong and announce himself as the future star of Indian badminton.

The unseeded tyro registered a 21-15, 15- 21, 22-20 quarterfinal win over Zhao Jun Peng of China. In an enthralling three-game encounter lasting one hour and seven minutes, the manner in which he won the last five points with four power-packed smashes was a delight to watch.
Srikanth conceded just 15 points as he trounced Caljouw in 26 minutes. The 28-yearold’s form suffered after he won four Super Series titles in 2017 and became world No.1 in 2018. He was out of action with injury and failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
But he practised hard and has played well in the last few tournaments.
“I told myself that I had to be in the match and not give my opponent easy points or a big lead. I just wanted to be very focused throughout. That really helped me a lot,” Srikanth said. “I am tired physically. I am happy to reach this stage,” he said.

Sindhu once again failed to cross the Tai hurdle and crashed to her 15th defeat in 20 matches between the two. Sindhu looked like gaining an upper hand in both games, but Tai’s net play floored the Indian.
The fact that she conceded an early lead (4-10) in the first game went against Sindhu. Though she made a comeback, Tai was not to be denied. In the second, it was even till the 12th point before Sindhu lost focus and eventually the match.
“It was not my day,” Sindhu said. “It was close but in the second game at 12-all, I gave her four-five points. I think I took a break there. With Tai Tzu there are no easy points. A bit sad that I was not able to win a medal here,” Sindhu added.