Lakshya Sen Falls To Kenta Nishimoto In Grueling Three-Game Semifinal At Japan Masters
Lakshya Sen’s Kumamoto Masters run ends in a semifinal loss to Kenta Nishimoto.
Top Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen’s impressive run at the Kumamoto Masters Japan came to an end after a hard-fought three-game loss to Japan’s world number 13 Kenta Nishimoto in the semifinals on Saturday. Playing with confidence and rhythm through the tournament, the seventh-seeded Sen went down 19-21, 21-14, 12-21 in a 77-minute contest that kept the crowd on edge.
Sen, the 2021 World Championship bronze medallist, came into the match with a 3-2 head-to-head advantage over Nishimoto but had lost their last encounter earlier this year at the Indonesia Masters. The opening game was a test of patience and consistency, with both players trading long rallies. Sen jumped to an early 8-3 lead but stumbled as Nishimoto took seven consecutive points to flip the momentum. The Japanese shuttler’s steeper smashes unsettled Sen, who lost the opener 19-21 after a few costly errors at the net.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist responded strongly in the second game, adjusting his pace and extending rallies to wear Nishimoto down. After trailing early, Sen staged a brilliant comeback, going into the interval with an 11-8 lead. His deft net play and precise cross-court smashes disturbed Nishimoto’s rhythm. Sen eventually dominated the exchanges, winning the second game 21-14 to force a decider and briefly raising hopes of a comeback win.
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However, Nishimoto regained momentum in the third game as fatigue visibly crept into Sen’s stride. The Japanese star raced to a 7-3 lead with sharp body smashes and superior court coverage. Despite Lakshya’s attempts to claw back with clever angles and backhand flicks, Nishimoto’s relentless attacking play widened the gap to 17-9. A final powerful smash sealed the match 21-12, sending Nishimoto through to the finals and ending India’s campaign in the men’s singles draw.
It was a tough finish for Lakshya, who rediscovered his form recently after a lean period. His semifinal run at the 475,000-dollar tournament, coming on the back of a runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open, indicates a promising upward curve. As he prepares for the upcoming international events, including the season-ending tour finals qualification race, Sen will look to capitalize on this momentum and refine his fitness and shot selection for high-intensity matches.
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