Macau Open: Lakshya Sen defeat Chinas Xuan Chen to advance to semifinals
Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli enter Macau Open 2025 semis after hard-fought wins with Sen set for first semifinal of the 2024 badminton season.
New Delhi: Lakshya Sen showed nerves of steel and sharp court instincts as he rallied from a game down to beat China’s Xuan Chen 14-21, 21-18, 21-14 and book his place in the BWF Marcus Open last four. In a nail biting contest Sen came back strongly from a slow start to beat China's Xuan Chen 14-21, 21-18, 14-21.
After dropping the opening game, the 23-year-old shifted gears in the second, mixing his pace and shots to throw off his opponent. With the score locked at 13-9 in the decider, Xuan Chen threatened a late charge but Sen remained composed using clever placements and net variations to close the game and match. He held his nerves and maintained control at crucial moments once again highlighting why he remains one of India's brightest badminton talents.
Earlier in the quarterfinals he had to fight hard to edge past Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo in a three game battle. Sen will next play Indonesia's Alwi Farhan in the semis which will stand out as another thriller encounter. This will mark Sen's first last four appearances of the 2025 season.
Tharun Mannepalli beat Hu Zhe
Tharun Mannepalli also secured his place in the semis following his gritty win over China's Hu Zhe. The 23-year-old demonstrated his resilience as he had to dig out a 21-12, 13-21, 2-1-18 that lasted for about an hour and fifteen minutes.
The Indian who won gold at the 37th National Games was trailing in the first game before rallying to 12-9and then later went on to score six straight points from 15-11 to seal the game.
Mannepalli lost the second game but in the decider he took 5-0 advantage and maintained it till 19-15. In the last minutes the match got tensed but he pulled out victory.
His path to the semi's wasn't easy as he had a tough draw and had to make his way through tough fixtures as he upset top seed Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong in the quarterfinals. This will mark his first semis appearance at a BWF Super 300 event. With both players now eyeing a spot in the final, the tournament is heating up for Indian badminton fans.