The steely resolve of Priyanshu Rajawat made the difference as he bounced back from a game down to knock out the 2022 champion Lakshya Sen from the India Open badminton tournament here on Tuesday.
Good friends and training partners Rajawat and Lakshya were engaged in a tense 75-minute battle where no quarter was given, none asked for. Eventually, Rajawat avenged the loss suffered at last year’s Japan Open in July with a 16-21, 21-16, 21-13 triumph to set up a second-round clash with H. S. Prannoy on Thursday.
Lakshya, yet to hit peak form after a nose surgery last year, could not challenge his younger rival in the second and third games.
After losing the first game, Ranawat realized the futility in attempting to match Lakshya’s speed. He smartly slowed down the pace and lengthened the rallies, instead of looking for a finishing-stroke in a hurry. This ploy of keeping the shuttle in play worked in favour of Ranawat as Lakshya repeatedly became impatient and erred.
This remained the trend and Rajawat never trailed. He opened leads of 9-4 and 17-10 in the second game to stay out of Lakshya’s reach.
In the decider, Rajawat jumped to a 9-1 lead but Lakshya bounced back gallantly to move within striking distance at 11-9. But the gain of the next three points saw Ranawat regain the cushion and the 21-year-old went on to enlarge it to 18-11. In fact, Ranawat was fortunate to get the 18th point after the Chair Umpire felt Lakshya’s racquet had crossed the net as he casually delivered a ‘tap’ to put away a mishit from his rival. Thereafter, Lakshya saved a match-point but soon netted to give Rajawat an important victory of his career.
“I was very keen to win this one after losing our previous encounter in Japan Open where I led 18-14 in the decider but lost 22-24,” revealed Rajawat. He continued, “I kept reminding myself of Lakshya’s ability to bounce back. Even when I led 18-11 in the decider, I was focusing hard. I must say, beating Lakshya today means a lot.”
Asked for his views on the upcoming clash with Prannoy, Ranawat said, “Prannoy guides me from time to time during our training (in Hyderabad) and I am very excited to play him. I’m well prepared and want to give my best.”
World No. 8 Prannoy raced away with the first game at 21-6 against Chinese Taipie’s Chou Tien Chen but was seriously stretched in the second. After bridging the gap from 8-14 to 11-16 to 18-19, Prannoy clinched the last four points to complete a testing win in 42 minutes.
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