India’s brightest junior Lakshya Sen had no qualms competing for a point against his elder brother, Chirag in the Vodafone PBL Season 4. Just 17, Lakshya is using every match-opportunity to improve his game.
Not all results had gone in his favour in the previous four singles matches, but he won the fifth match — his second in the league — and paved the way for Pune 7 Aces to score a commanding 5-0 victory against Delhi Dashers at `The Arena by SE TransStadia’ in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The Asian Junior Champion and a semi-finalist at last year’s World Junior Championship in Canada, Lakshya did not have it easy though against Chirag. The siblings were engaged in a tussle for most part of the match before Lakshya registered a second win for his side. ``We have played each other before. It’s little different, but you cannot help it,’’ said Lakshya, who had beaten Chirag in a junior tournament in Pune a few years ago.
Lakshya added a point to the big two won by Vladimir Ivanov and Line Kjaersfeldt in their nominated Trump match in the mixed doubles opener. Then, Carolina Marin virtually toyed with Russian Evgeniya Kosetskaya to clinch the tie for the Aces.
Placed fifth in the league table, the Aces picked up another point in the men’s doubles, nominated as a Trump match by the Dashers. Clearly it was fruitful day for the Aces even though Tommy Sugiarto pulled back the last men’s singles match for the dashers with a straight games win against Brice Leverdez. With an resounding win the Aces jumped to the third place in the league.
After the World Junior Championships, Lakshya — counselled by his coach and father — decided to end his junior career and focus on seniors from the Senior Nationals in Guwahati. "As a junior I am getting opportunities to play with the seniors in this league. I have no fear of losing. It’s a new experience for me playing such matches; these are pressure matches which will give me the required experience and confidence to play the senior circuit. It will take time to perform in the seniors. I will be playing a lot of senior tournaments this year; the BWF lower levels and if a get a chance in the Super Series,’’ said Lakshya.
The results:
Pune 7 Aces bt Delhi Dashers 5-0: Vladimir Ivanov and Line Kjaersfeldt (T) bt Jongjit Maneepong and Evgeniya Kosetskaya 15-9, 14-15, 15-8; Lakshya Sen bt Chirag Sen 15-12, 15-11, Carolina Marin bt Evgeniya Kosetskaya 15-5, 15-6; Boe Mathias and Chirag Shetty bt Chai Biao and Jongjit Maneepong (T) 9-15, 15-10, 15-13; Brice Leverdez lost to Tommy Sugiarto 7-15,14-15.
