New Delhi: India’s run at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750 came to a close on Friday as the last remaining home contender exited the tournament. Lakshya Sen, the last Indian remaining in singles, fought courageously but was defeated in the quarterfinals, bringing India’s participation at the tournament to an end.
In the men’s singles quarterfinal, Sen pushed his opponent all the way but was beaten in a hard-fought contest. The final scoreline read 21–19, 18–21, 19–21, with Sen taking the opening game before his opponent surged back to win the next two. Sen’s aggressive play and willingness to engage in long rallies kept the crowd captivated, but a few crucial errors at key moments proved decisive as he narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth.
Meanwhile, former world champion Loh Kean Yew drew attention to problems at the India Open, posting images online that intensified concerns about the Super 750 event. The Badminton Association of India faced renewed criticism from foreign players over the venue’s condition.
HS Prannoy’s Round of 16 match against Loh was interrupted twice due to droppings on the court, contradicting earlier claims that the arena was pigeon-free.
A monkey was also reportedly seen in the stands, adding to questions about stadium management. Meanwhile, Mia Blichfeldt voiced repeated complaints about playing conditions, and World No. 3 Anders Antonsen skipped the tournament, citing poor air quality in New Delhi.
