Win or lose, Lakshya Sen remains an entertainer

Sen, playing at Thailand Open, a regulation Super 500 (third rung after Super 1000 and 750), was up against the local favourite in the last match of the quarterfinals day – and he put on a show that makes badminton imminently watchable for those one-sport fans resisting it simply out of ignorance.

Sen lost 21-19, 21-16; so you could take jingoism or nationalistic pride out of it, as a possible reason for the dekko recco. Neither was it some titanic valiant fight in vain, that gets called dubbed an epic till tomorrow’s epic arrives. This was simply entertaining badminton where Sen – as is his wont — kept Kunlavut “View” as he is called, on the edge after starting terribly trailing 2-11 in the first set.

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Sen’s frustrating errors, that look casual but are simply poor execution or sharpness of usually brilliant plans, are an important part of his entertainment value. He is what old, crusty critics would call, flashy. Too much showmanship, too many fantastical strokes – which if he cut down, or atleast played without a creative headrush might actually win him more matches. But then, what’s the fun?

In the second set, from a salvageable 14-17 situation, Sen went to 14-18, because he tried a fancy backhand high flick at the net – which in that showy wristy gloating, got dumped into the net. A little more shuttle control, less of that stroke-making, and it would have tippled over the meshing, making it 15-17. But Sen can’t help it. Two points later it got to 15-19 because his flair-smash was once again in the net.

Lakshya put on a show in the Thailand Open that makes badminton imminently watchable for those one-sport fans resisting it simply out of ignorance. (Badminton Photo)

Coaches might try drilling pragmatism into him, but preaching him to become boring, feels criminal. For reasons best known to him, Sen starts painfully slowly, and then without fail makes the endgame unblinkable viewing. His is not the raw power, his strokes whiz around like catapults from his reflexive elbow and elastic wrist. The unforced errors get you pulling your hair out, because you can tell it’s a smart web he has woven, but he just can’t catch a break to finish up.

On top of all this, he keeps a poker face that betrays nothing – no tiredness, no disappointment at missed opportunity, no over the top exulting either. Opponents get freaked wondering what he will pull off next, despite knowing he has neither a killer smash nor resilient rigour. He can throw it all away, in pursuit of an intricate badminton maze which unfolds at top speed, that keeps opponents on tenterhooks.

Kunlavut, technically the most proficient of shuttlers of Sen’s generation, is known to be unflappable. He has a good smash hit, knows to win, and win he did. But only after anguish sat on his face and he sweated buckets and knew he was winning with the cushy leads — but couldn’t be sure, because it was Sen doing his thing from across the court.

Kunlavut is a megastar in Thailand after his silver at the Paris Olympics and World title. The same batch as Sen, he’s miles ahead in terms of number of titles, but reassurance leaves opponents when this Indian fetches up. Sen goes into matches, wanting to make the whole 53 minutes a highlight package. He dives outrageously, unnecessarily some might say, to get the shuttle across and tumbles out himself, knowing the followup will land pokingly on an empty court. His finishing stroke is strictly utilitarian. It’s the buildup in the long edge of seat rallies where he leaves jam-packed arenas, whooping and whistling.

Sen’s brain fade loss of leads are crucial in this drama. Because only then can he clamber back like 2-11 to 19-21. He manufactures excitement pulling it out of thin air, after the set gets into the Post 17-point zone. The Thai crowd had jaws on the floor with some of the exchanges that saw Kunlavut stretched to limits holding his wits. Like Leon Marchand mania of Paris Olympics, Thai fans travel with large sized Kunlavut face-cutouts – but Sen was leading them a wicked waltz where they couldn’t help appreciating Sen.

Sen does the ‘leaving it to the end’-offensive play with Dhonisque relish, though he doesn’t always win. At 16-20 match point down with the battle all but over, Sen brought out the most outstanding defense and court craft of the match before he smashed out, with inevitability.

One day, the smash will stick. And the big wins will come. Till then, badminton is best watched for the dizzy heartstopping brand of Rollercoaster simulation that Lakshya Sen brings to the court. It’s a mic drop a minute. Blockbuster stuff