World No 10 Lin Dan beats Lakshya Sen in 3-game thriller

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Two time Olympic and five time World Champion shuttler Lin Dan, 34, China, defeated World Number 104 Lakshya Sen, 16, India, in a three game thriller in the second round of Badminton World Federation (BWF) New Zealand Badminton Open, a World Tour Super 300 event, on May 3, 2018.

Top seed Dan defeated Sen 15-21, 21-15, 21-12. Sen, who hails from Almora in Uttrakhand, suprised Lin Dan, a six time All England Badminton Champion, by taking the first game. But, World Number 10 in BWF rankings Dan displayed his class and experience by winning the next two games to enter the quarterfinals of the tournament. Dan appreciated Sen’s performance.

But, World Number 26 and 5th seed Sameer Verma, 23, Madhya Pradesh, India, showed the exit door to defending champion Lee Cheuk Yiu, Hongkong, defeating him in straight games 21-17,  21-19. Lee Cheuk Yiu is ranked 38th in BWF rankings and was unseeded in the tournament.

Ajay Jairam, India, the World No 106, however, lost to World Number 127 Kwang Hee Heo, South Korea, in three game enounter 15-21, 22-20, 6-21.