Shifeng
India’s former junior world No 1 Lakshya Sen gave a dominant performance to march into the men’s singles semi-finals with crushing 21-14, 21-12 win over China’s second seed Li Shifeng in the quarter-finals in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Bintaro, Jakarta on Friday.
In a 38-minute match packed with powerful smashes and mastery at the net, the 16-year-old Indian Thomas Cupper thus avenged in defeat in the quarter-finals at the last Junior World Championships in Yogjakarta, Indonesia in his only previous meeting with the Chinese.
“I was confident of winning this time. It is a win I was looking for and it has given me the confidence. There are still two matches to go for the final and I hope to ride on this win all the way,” said Lakshya, the current world No 5, after his win.
In the semi-finals, the Indian will Indonesia’s hope and hard-hitting Ikhsan Leonardo Imanuel Rumbay. Rumbay ranked No 5 and seeded fourth in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships was also in devastating form to beat Malaysia’s last hope Ng Tze Tong 21-14, 21-19 in 50 minutes.
The other semi-final will be between top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand and last year’s runners-up Bai Yupeng of China who won their matches against Indonesian opponents Christian Adinata and Alberto Alvin Yulianto respectively.
Christian gave Kunlavut a tough fight in the first game before he won 23-21 but it was a breeze in the second game which he easily won 21-8 to clinch the match in 37 minutes.
Yupeng is the last Chinese standing after the defeat of Shifeng. Yupeng also had to come through a tough second game in his 21-15, 22-20 win also in 50 minutes.
“I have never played Lakshya before but I see him a very cool player with vast experience although he I am ranked higher than him,” said Rumbay.
“However, I am determined to win the semi-final and the final for my country. The local supporters have been just fantastic,” added Rumbay who is playing in his second Badminton Asia Junior Championships.
He reached the semi-finals last year.
RESULTS (QUARTER FINALS)
Men’s singles
Lakshya Sen (Ina) beat Li Shifeng (Chn) 21-14, 21-12
Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) beat Christian Adinata (Ina) 23-21, 21-8
Bai Yupeng (Chn) beat Alberto Alvin Yulianto (Ina) 21-15, 22-20
Ikhsan Leonardo Imanuel Rumbay (Ina) beat Ng Tze Yong (Mas) 21-14, 21-19
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