Lakshya Sen picked a Super 500 title at the fag end of a tough season of 2025, when back issues daunted him. He spoke to The Indian Express about the doubts and uncertainty he faced about returning to peak fitness, how his dazzling defensive dives are not show-boating, and why the loss to Chinese Li Shifeng at the Hong Kong finals stung badly.
What was breakfast on the day you hammered Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 in Australia Open final?
Nothing out of the ordinary — I kept to my usual routine. I had oats and eggs. It’s simple, but it gives me sustained energy without making me feel too heavy.
What was the worst day of 2025?
To be honest, the worst day was early in the season when I was struggling with niggling injuries — especially my back issue. As I said before, I had a few injuries at the start of the season, and some of those moments were really frustrating. There were times when I doubted if I could get back to where I wanted to be.
Two stunning defensive masterclasses — at Hong Kong and at Sydney. What is your mindset in long, punishing rallies?
My mindset is always to stay in the point, stay patient. When I know my opponent won’t give up easily and we trade really long rallies, I have to expect that the shuttle would come back. So I try to absorb, defend, and then pick my moments to attack. I don’t try to win every rally with a smash; I want to make my opponent work, force mistakes, and then pounce.”
Most painful part of injury management?
It’s not just the physical pain. The hardest part is the uncertainty — wondering how long recovery will take, whether I’ll come back at full speed, and not being able to compete at my top level. On top of that, there’s the frustration of doing all the rehab, working hard in training, but sometimes still feeling limited.
Lakshya Sen celebrates after winning the Sathio Australian Open 2025 MS title. (Badminton Photo)
Coach Yong-sung’s most important advice in the Australian week / in the final?
Coach Yoo (Yoo Yong-sung) has been a pillar for me. One key thing he kept telling me was: play one point at a time. He reminded me to focus on the process, not the scoreboard. When I built that lead in the second set, he told me not to relax, to stay sharp. That stayed in my mind: don’t let your head drift, just keep executing point by point.
Do you practice dives & bouncing back on your feet?
Yes, in training we work on defensive recovery a lot — not just dives but also how to get up cleanly, how to reposition, how to be ready for the next shot. It’s not about show-boating; it’s about minimizing risk, but being prepared to stretch, recover, and continue the rally if needed.
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I actually train to avoid diving! I’ve been working on footwork and moving with the right step forward and sideways to play returns on my foot (and not scrambling on fours). Diving comes naturally to me. But if I have to have a long career, I can’t be doing those things at age 30. There’s a lot of chance of injuries. When playing if the shuttle goes past you, you need to put in the dive and take it. But I train to avoid it.
Did you check your medal, given Malaysian Chen Tang Jie had ended up with one that had ‘men’s singles’ inscribed on it?
(Laughs). Yes, as soon as I arrive. But I got my right medal for men’s singles. Maybe they had extra men’s singles medals, and everyone was men’s singles winner!
What was toughest loss of the year?
I think the toughest was in Hong Kong, losing the final to Li Shi Feng. That match was a big test — not just physically but mentally. I had played some long points, had my chances, but I couldn’t close it out. It stung, but it also taught me a lot about match temperament and how to handle pressure in big moments.
