Asian Games badminton: Lakshya Sen loses in second round, out of medal race
Lakshya Sen was beaten in three sets by Singapore's Loh Kean Yew in the men's singles second round at the Asian Games, ending his medal hopes.
The Asian Games 2026 are underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and India has put up a strong showing, with its athletes winning more than 27 medals so far, including 4 gold. But there was disappointing news for India as well.
Top Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen's men's singles campaign ended in the second round. Singapore's former world champion Loh Kean Yew beat Sen in a hard-fought three-set match.
In the crucial match, Loh Kean Yew of Singapore came out attacking from the start and held control through the contest. With sharp shots and strong control, he won the first set 21-12.
Sen fought back strongly in the second set, winning it 21-15 to level the match 1-1. But he could not carry that momentum forward.
The third and final set saw a fierce contest between the two players, but at key moments Sen could not match Loh Kean Yew's aggressive play, losing the set 14-21 and the match. With the 12-21, 21-15, 14-21 defeat, Lakshya Sen's individual singles campaign at the Asian Games came to an end, and he is out of the medal race.
Saturday proved an overall disappointing day for India at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Indian athletes also being eliminated the same day in esports, men's table tennis, canoe sprint and men's sabre fencing.
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