India's Lakshya Sen wins Canada Open 2023

New Delhi: India’s Lakshya Sen, a Commonwealth Games Gold medalist, secured the men's singles title at the Canada Open 2023 early on Monday.

He defeated China's Li Shi Feng, the reigning All England champion and world number 10, in a straight games battle of 21-18, 22-20.

This win marks Lakshya's second BWF World Tour 500 title, following his previous triumph at the India Open in January 2022.

Displaying exceptional skills, Lakshya exhibited remarkable acceleration in his flat drives, capitalized on every short lift, and executed impeccably tight shots at the net.

This victory adds another Super 500 title to his career, alongside the India Open title, further solidifying his position as a rising star in the badminton world.

In the first set, Lakshya took an early 6-2 lead and maintained his dominance throughout, even as Shifeng managed to level the score at 15-all. With his speedy returns and precision, Lakshya consistently set up winning shots whenever a loose shuttle came his way, accumulating points in clusters.

Even when the score was tied at 15-all, Lakshya swiftly launched an offensive, securing three quick points to maintain control. Winning the first set provided him with a mental advantage over Shifeng, in a match where both players showcased a relentless pace of rallies.

Throughout the tournament, Lakshya who is currently ranked 19th in the world, displayed exceptional form, defeating Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn (world ranking 4) in the Round of 32, Japan's Kento Nishimoto (world ranking 11) in the semifinals, and China's Li Shi Feng (world ranking 10) in the summit clash to claim the well-deserved title.

With inputs from agencies