Lakshya Sen Advances to Semi-Finals with First-Ever Win Over Angus Ng Ka Long
Shenzhen [China], December 27: India’s premier badminton star Lakshya Sen secured a spot in the semi-finals of the King Cup International Badminton Open 2024, delivering an impressive maiden victory over Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long on Friday.
Ranked 12th in the world, Lakshya triumphed over the world number 17 in a thrilling three-game match with scores of 10-21, 21-13, 21-13. Despite a shaky start in the opening game, where Lakshya conceded the set easily, the Indian shuttler made a stellar comeback in the subsequent games.
The second game saw Lakshya regroup and gain a three-point lead by the mid-game interval. Angus Ng Ka Long, known for his pace, kept himself in the contest but was ultimately undone by repeated forced errors. This marks Lakshya’s first win against Angus Ng Ka Long in their four head-to-head matches. Their last encounter at the Malaysia Masters in 2023 had ended in Angus’ favor, with a scoreline of 21-14, 21-19.
In Saturday’s semi-final, Lakshya will face Chinese teenager Hu Zhe An. The 18-year-old, who stunned Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew in the quarterfinals, is currently ranked 183rd in senior rankings. However, Hu Zhe An is the reigning junior world champion and holds the top spot in the junior world rankings, making him a formidable opponent despite his lower senior ranking.
The semi-finals will also feature top players, including Paris 2024 silver medallist and current world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, Denmark’s world number two Anders Antonsen, French talent Alex Lanier, and China’s Wang Zi Jun.
Adding to the excitement, an exhibition match between badminton legends Lin Dan and Taufik Hidayat is scheduled for Saturday. The inaugural King Cup International Badminton Open, founded by two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan, focuses exclusively on men’s singles and features an elite eight-player lineup.
This unique tournament follows a single-elimination format and does not award ranking points, as it is not part of the BWF calendar. Nevertheless, its star-studded roster and competitive format have drawn significant attention from badminton enthusiasts worldwide.
