Lakshya Sen defeated world junior number one Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final in straight games.
India's top junior badminton player Lakshya Sen clinched the biggest title of his career as he defeated Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final of the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2018 in Indonesia.
Sen defeated world junior number one Vitidsarn in the final in straight games 21-19, 21-18 on Sunday. Sen defeated second seed China's Li Shifeng in quarterfinals while he beat fourth seed Ikhsan Leonardo Imanuel Rumbay in semifinals.
Sen was a little slow at the start, however, he steadily built on momentum and kept his nerves intact to emerge victorious in the match.
Vitidsaran started the first game on attack and took the first two points. Lakshya kept coming back and matched him at 7-7. Two players fought hard for every point taking the game to a tense 19-19. Sen, then deceived his opponent with a wonderful drop shot and won the first game.
The second game started on a similar note with both the players battling hard to keep the lead. They were locked at 17-17. Sen againt controlled his nerves and won crucial points to take the game 21-18.
This is India's first medal at the competition in six years and first gold in men's singles since 1965.
Sen, who is a former world junior number one, is currently ranked number nine. '
With his gold, Lakshya became just the third Indian shuttler to be crowned junior Asian champion and joined Gautam Thakkar and PV Sindhu in a highly exclusive club.
Sindhu, who is an Olympic silver medalist, won the title in 2012 while Thakkar won gold all the way back in 1965.
Indian shuttlers who have won a medal at Asia Championship include Gautam Thakkar (Gold) in 1965, Pranav Chopra/Prajkta Sawant (Bronze) in 2009, Sameer Verma (Silver) and P.V. Sindhu (Bronze) in 2011 and P.V. Sindhu (Gold) and Sameer Verma (Bronze) in 2012.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Lakshya Sen")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}