India blank Bangladesh 3-0 to enter Asian Games badminton quarterfinals
The Indian men's badminton team produced a dominant 3-0 win over Bangladesh to enter the quarterfinals of the Asian Games here on Monday, setting up a last-eight clash against hosts Japan.
Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty and K Srikkanth all won their singles matches in straight games, leaving no need for the doubles rubbers.
Lakshya opened the tie against Ibn Ayman Jaman and needed less than half an hour to register a 21-4 21-12 victory.
Ayush then defeated Gourab Singh 21-4 21-13 in 25 minutes to put India within touching distance of the quarterfinals.
Srikanth completed the rout with a 21-15 21-9 win over Jumar Al Amin in a 23-minute contest.
India will face Japan in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The women's team will also take on Japan in their last-eight encounter.
Lakshya said that despite the one-sided nature of his match, the contest was useful for adjusting to the conditions and getting a feel for the court.
"It was important for me to get to know the conditions. Yeah, on paper it was not a very tough match, but the first match can be very tricky," he said.
"I just came in with the approach to just get a good start and then find my rhythm and adjust to the court. Once I knew I was winning the match, it was more about getting to know the court better," he added.
Asked about his inconsistent form over the past year, Lakshya said injuries had complicated his season but he was now feeling positive and looking forward to competing at the highest level.
"There were a few good tournaments in the start of the year and I just want to play to that level again. There were some concerns with injuries and stuff midway through this year, but I got back from it, and now I'm looking forward to competing at the highest level," he said.
"The training has been good, and I'm in a very good mindset and really fresh," he added.
Lakshya's Bangladesh opponent sought a selfie with him after their match, a moment the Indian said reflected the camaraderie among players away from competition.
"I mean, we are neighbours, so it's good to see them do so well and participate in this tournament. The friendship beyond the court is amazing and it's always good to meet players, get a photo with them, and when it's a healthy rivalry it's always good," he said.
