Lakshya Sen’s recent exit from the China Open has sparked candid remarks from his coach, Vimal Kumar, who stresses that the answers to Sen’s recurring struggles lie solely on the court.
A Familiar Setback in China
Lakshya Sen started strong against Li Shifeng at the China Open, winning the first set with smart play. Despite facing a tough opponent on his home turf, Sen diagnosed Shifeng’s movements well and earned clever points.
In the second set, even with difficult conditions, Sen fought back from a 10-16 deficit to gain two match points. However, he made critical errors that have become a worrying pattern. A risky flick serve fell short, allowing Shifeng to punish it. Another poor serve on the next match point pushed the game to a decider.
Sen couldn’t regain momentum in the third set, ultimately losing 21-14, 22-24, 21-12 in a 66-minute battle. This defeat highlighted a frustrating trend for his coach.
Coach Vimal Kumar’s Concerns
Coach Vimal Kumar noted that this isn’t the first time Sen has faltered at the finish line. He drew parallels to previous instances, including crucial matches at the Olympics against Viktor Axelsen and Lee Zii Jia, where Sen had advantageous positions but turned tentative.
Kumar expressed his dismay, stating that Sen often does all the hard work to build an advantage, only to fritter it away by becoming over-cautious right when victory is within reach. This pattern is particularly frustrating given Sen’s talent.
The Tactical Missteps
When asked about the root cause, Vimal Kumar pointed to tactical errors. He highlighted the “flick serve” on match point in the second set, stating there was no need for such a risky shot when conventional rallies had won him many points previously. He emphasized that Sen repeatedly makes the same mistakes.
In the third set, despite playing with the wind, Sen opted for hitting down instead of using flat shots to the back of the court. These poor tactical choices gave Li Shifeng openings. Kumar believes Sen might be trying to surprise opponents or win points too quickly instead of playing calmly and smartly.
Beyond Training: A Mental Challenge
Vimal Kumar finds it disappointing that Sen struggled against opponents like Kodai Naraoka (last week) and Li Shifeng, who weren’t playing at their absolute best. He believes Sen’s “thinking process is not right” at crucial moments.
While the Olympics loss could be a factor, Vimal Kumar insists Sen cannot dwell on it. He emphasized that at the highest level, a player must be practical and convert these chances. The coach believes Sen is a very good player capable of performing much better.
The Hard Truth: It’s Up to Him
Vimal Kumar delivered a stark message regarding Sen’s situation. “No coach can do anything,” he stated firmly. “The answer is not more training, more gym. Answers are on the court. He has to do this himself.”
He underlined the simple requirement: “no mistakes” on crucial points. Kumar believes that once Sen starts converting these opportunities, his confidence will return, and everything else will fall into place. He does not blame anyone else for Sen’s inability to close out matches.
- Lakshya Sen consistently struggles to close out crucial matches, a pattern his coach calls “over-cautious.”
- Coach Vimal Kumar believes the issues are tactical and mental, not a lack of training or physical fitness.
- Sen needs to apply himself calmly and avoid unforced errors at critical match points.
- The coach’s final message is clear: Sen must find the answers on the court himself by converting opportunities.
As Sen looks towards upcoming tournaments like Macau and the World Championships, the focus remains on transforming his potential into consistent victories by overcoming these mental and tactical hurdles on court.
