Lakshya Sen continued his impressive run on the BWF Tour, claiming his second successive title with a hard-fought victory over Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the Kumamoto Masters final on Sunday. The Indian came from behind to beat the home favourite 13-21, 21-18, 21-14 in a contest lasting one hour and four minutes.
The triumph also puts Lakshya in a strong position to qualify for the BWF World Tour Finals, scheduled to be held in Hangzhou. He had entered the Super 500 tournament after winning the Hylo Open title and produced another determined performance to secure the crown.
Lakshya moves into qualifying spot for World Tour Finals
Before the Kumamoto Masters, the world No. 13 was 12th in the Race to Finals standings with 64,980 points. The 9,200 points earned from Sunday's victory are set to take him to sixth place with 74,180 points when the rankings are updated on Tuesday.
The top eight players qualify for the season-ending event. However, Lakshya's place is not yet confirmed, with the Hong Kong Open, scheduled from November 17 to 22, serving as the final qualifying tournament.
Indian battles back after losing opening game
Watanabe started strongly, taking an early 3-0 lead and using sharp smashes to keep Lakshya under pressure. The Japanese player controlled the opening game and went into the interval with a five-point advantage. He continued to dictate the rallies after the break, eventually taking the game 21-13.
Lakshya responded emphatically in the second game, racing to a 5-0 lead after switching sides. He used his speed and control at the net to put Watanabe on the defensive. The Japanese player mounted a late fightback, cutting the deficit from 10-19 to 17-19, but Lakshya held his nerve to win 21-18 and force a decider.
Lakshya takes charge in deciding game
The final game saw both players engage in long rallies before Lakshya pulled ahead from 3-3 to lead 9-6. His attacking play then widened the gap, with a series of powerful smashes taking him to 17-7.
Watanabe managed to reduce the deficit to 13-19, but Lakshya earned seven match points with two precise returns. He converted the second opportunity with a cross-court winner to seal the title.