India’s Lakshya Sen clinched third place at the King Cup International Badminton Open 2024 after defeating France’s Alex Lanier in Shenzhen, China, on Sunday. Sen, currently ranked world No. 12, overcame world No. 18 Lanier in straight games, 21-17, 21-11, in their third-place playoff match.
This marked the first meeting between the two shuttlers, with Lanier initially taking the lead in the opening game. However, Sen rallied after the mid-game interval, seizing control to secure the first game and dominating the second to seal the match.
Sen’s run in the tournament included a quarterfinal victory over Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long. In the semi-finals, however, he fell to China’s Hu Zhe’an, the reigning junior world champion and world No. 1. Zhe’an’s strong performance denied the Indian a chance to compete in the final.
The King Cup final, featuring Zhe’an and Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, is scheduled to take place later in the day. Antonsen defeated Lanier in the other semi-final to advance to the title match.
The King Cup International Badminton Open is an exclusive invitational tournament launched by Chinese badminton legend and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan. The inaugural edition featured an elite field of just eight players competing in the men’s singles category.
Notably, the King Cup is not part of the official Badminton World Federation (BWF) calendar and does not offer ranking points, making it a unique event focused on showcasing high-quality matches.
Lakshya Sen was India’s sole representative at the tournament. The 23-year-old continues to impress on the international stage, having also reached the semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics earlier this year.
Sen’s third-place finish sums up his growing stature in the badminton world. His ability to rebound from the semi-final defeat and dominate against Lanier demonstrates his skill and winning mentality.
Reflecting on the tournament, Sen stated, “It’s been a great experience competing in such a unique event. Playing against the best in the world is always challenging, and I’m happy to secure a podium finish.”
As Sen continues his journey, his performance at the King Cup adds another highlight to what has been a remarkable year for Indian badminton.
