‘Resilience the biggest positive in his game this week’: Vimal Kumar on Lakshya Sen’s All England Open performance

Pullela Gopichand had once famously said, “When your legs do not allow you to play, you should play with your heart.”

Lakshya Sen took it to heart during the semifinal win over Victor Lai. And despite his defeat to Lin Chun-Yi in the All England final on Sunday, Lakshya’s exploits over the week will make for a special chapter in Indian badminton.

Lakshya’s mentor Vimal Kumar was impressed by his intent. “Lakshya wasn’t able to inject his usual pace at the start and looked a little slow in his movements,” Vimal told TOI. “But what impressed me the most was his intent — he kept digging in and fighting for every point. That resilience has been the biggest positive in his game this entire week,” Vimal said and added that muscle fatigue slowed him in the final.

“It’s a tough loss, but a very brave effort. Lakshya had a real chance to take the second game. However, the muscle fatigue he was carrying meant that he couldn’t finish the rallies with his smashes, the punch just wasn’t there at that stage. Despite that, he defended superbly against one of the most attacking players in world badminton,” Vimal said.

All this after the low at the Paris Olympics, where Lakshya missed out on a medal from a winning position. His father and his first coach DK Sen recounted that painful moment. “It was the most painful moment for us. But we believe in God and he decides when to give and what to give, we are still waiting for that moment,” Sen told TOI.

Vimal ensured Lakshya had a strong team and that showed in the results as Lakshya won the Australian Open last year and came close to the title on Sunday. “The Korean coach with his demanding methods, along with a good physio, trainer, and strength and conditioning coach, and of course the consistent guidance of his father coach, have all played an important role in helping him come out of that phase,” Vimal said.

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