New Delhi, August 18: Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen kicked off his campaign at the BWF World Championship 2026 with a victory on Tuesday. He triumphed over Austria’s Collins Philemon in the Round of 64, winning with scores of 16-21, 21-8, and 21-4.
Sen noted that his initial game plan was tailored to counter the strengths of the Austrian player. Philemon, being tall, was comfortable in flat exchanges and dominated the rallies in the first game.
After the match, Sen shared his thoughts with reporters, stating, “I was playing too many short drives in the first set. When I attempted to drive, my shots were long, allowing him to play those shots easily. I got stuck in those shots. In the second set, I tried to open up my game a bit more. I played some lifts and rallies, which allowed me to play my shots freely. Otherwise, I made many mistakes in the first set, and my game plan was a bit different. I changed a few things in the second and third sets, which led to different results.”
The first game started as a tight contest, but Philemon quickly took the lead and won 21-16. Sen acknowledged that he had not utilized the court effectively and should have engaged the Austrian player in longer rallies instead of allowing him to dominate in flat exchanges.
He explained, “The game I was playing wasn’t right. I needed to open up the game more and bring him into rallies. I did that in the second set, and it made a difference.”
Court conditions also impacted the match. Sen began on the side where the wind drift was strong, making it difficult to control the shuttle, especially during lifts. Once he switched sides, the Indian player found it easier to implement his strategies.
Sen remarked, “I started playing on the windy side, so controlling the shuttle on lifts was challenging, and many of my lifts fell short. In the second set, I knew I was playing on the better side, which allowed me to play my game more freely.”
These adjustments paid off immediately. Sen won the second game comfortably at 21-8 and showcased even more impressive play in the decisive game, finishing it in just 14 minutes with a score of 21-4.
The Indian player also highlighted the role of his coaching staff during the match, saying, “Most of our discussions were about the drift and some key points. He is a tall player, so my cross lifts were falling short. He was taking advantage of that, forcing me to run more on the court. They advised me to lift a bit higher and avoid flat drives since he covers the court easily. It was also crucial to wait for my opportunities and create better chances to attack.”
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