Li Shi Feng is defeated by Lakshya Sen in straight games to win the 2023 Canada Open

Lakshya Sen defeated Li Shi Feng of China to win the Canada Open 2023 on Sunday in Calgary. The Indian athlete who won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games defeated the All England champion 21-18, 22-20.

“It was challenging going into the Olympic qualifying year since things didn’t go my way. Therefore, this victory would greatly increase my confidence,” Sen told PTI after the victory.

The ace shuttler stated, “I had to dig deep in certain matches, the circumstances were different and getting acclimated to it was vital.

Sen held things close to record his sixth victory in seven matches against the Chinese throughout the pair’s amazing rallies, which were full of frantic net exchanges.

Sen, a former world number six who won bronze at the 2021 World Championships, had extensive recovery time after undergoing nasal surgery to correct a deviated septum following the World Championships last August.

In a contest of strength and dexterity between the two young athletes, Sen displayed more composure and temperament to defeat the world No. 10 from China.

Sen maintained a strong grip at the net and unleashed a number of cross-court and down-the-line smashes to challenge Li Shi Feng, who went down 2-6 at the beginning of the first game.

The two played a fast-paced game while trading impressive jump smashes. Li launched two 390 kmph smashes, while Sen let out a few 400 kmph thunderbolts.

Sen was able to maintain a three-point lead at the break in the action when Li was unable to secure an Indian body return.

Both players launched many powerful smashes from the back to get points, but Li lost at 12–15 due to unforced mistakes. At 15-15, he managed to tie the score, but Sen used another of his signature straight smashes to win three game points.

Another accurate return on his rival’s forehand gave him the victory and the right to claim it as his own.

The Chinese were waiting for their chance, engaging Sen in some exciting exchanges at the net and taking advantage of any Indian weakness. After a brief struggle that ended with a tie score of 5-5, he took control and quickly led by four points at the half.

Sen attempted to alter his strategy after Li prevailed in the net battle and briefly brought the score to 13–14. However, the Chinese were able to get the upper hand and scored four game points with a strong return that Sen missed.

Sen, though, demonstrated his tenacity by following up a forehand body smash with another forceful smash. Sen then added another smash to even the score after Li stumbled near the net.

Sen gained the edge after another rally with a great return on Li’s forehand, and he finished it off with another powerful smash.

Sen demonstrated his attitude well by saving four game points in the second game to earn a championship point, securing it with a smash at the first chance, and collapsing on the floor in relief and joy after a tough battle.

Lakshya had to work hard to upset second-seeded Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the first round (21-18, 21-15), then she overcame Ygor Coelho de Oliveira of Brazil in the second round (21-15, 21-11). In the third round, Lakshya’s German opponent Julien Carraggi had him work hard, but he prevailed 21-8, 17-21, 21-10. Lasksya defeated Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto 21-17, 21-14 in the semifinal match.

Lakshya had last competed in a final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022. This was also his second participation in the BWF World Tour Super 500 event’s final.

The 21-year-old dropped out of the top 10 this year after many first-round losses. Lakshya, who is now rated 19th, has lost in the first round of four tournaments, with his best showing coming at the Indonesia Masters in January, when he advanced to the quarterfinals.

following having surgery on his nose to correct a deviated septum following the World Championships in August of last year, Sen has been working to get back into shape. After the operation, I was sick a lot and had allergies for almost eight months.

Six tiers make up the BWF World Tour: World Tour Finals, four Super 1000s, six Super 750s, seven Super 500s, and eleven Super 300s.

The BWF Tour Super 100 level is another division of the competition that awards ranking points.