PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen Seek Momentum at Japan Masters Super 500
After almost a month, top Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will return to BWF Tour action at the Japan Masters Super 500 starting Tuesday. Though not the biggest event in the badminton calendar, the Super 500 is significant contextually for the Indian players given their recent form. The aim for both athletes is to rebuild momentum following a disappointing Olympics, an ensuing recovery break, and an unimpressive October comeback at the European swing.
The forthcoming weeks present opportunities to end their strenuous season positively, with events including Japan Masters, a Super 750 in China, and the Syed Modi Super 300 at home. Sindhu and Lakshya arrived early in Japan for better tournament preparations. Sindhu has been working with a new coaching team (Anup Sridhar and Lee Syun Il) following the Olympics, aiming for a total reset amidst her struggle to maintain her consistent top 10 player status.
Sindhu, unseeded at tournaments, is scheduled to play against the eighth-seeded Thai Busanan Ongbamrungphan. Despite her unseeded status, Sindhu's past dominance against Thai (18-1 head-to-head) should instill confidence. A win could open the possibility of a rematch with Canada's Michelle Li, thereby providing Sindhu with a strong incentive.
Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, who reached the Olympic bronze medal match by defeating higher-ranked players, seeks to exorcise his mental blocks, particularly after his disappointing fourth-place finish in Paris. His only solution lies in participating in challenging matches and emerging victorious, with Japan and China offering such opportunities.
