Delhi, 15 March (H.S.): A single switch could ruin a joyful Holi day, as evidenced by Chinese shuttlers’ dominance in two swift defeats. Lakshya Sen, aiming for a third All England semi-final, fell to Li Shifeng 21-10, 21-16, struggling with errors and failing to adapt his game.

Meanwhile, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were overwhelmed by Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, losing 21-14, 21-10. While the latter result was expected, Sen’s performance raised concerns, especially given his lack of injuries or poor form.

Both players faced challenges in their 21-10 losses, but Sen struggled significantly with errors, failing to adapt to the arena’s demands. Despite his potential to counter Shifeng’s power game, Sen could not penetrate his defense and mismanaged his shots, leading to numerous unforced errors. His strategy to push back lacked the necessary control and discipline.

Meanwhile, Shifeng demonstrated a solid defensive game reminiscent of champions like Chen Long and Viktor Axelsen, while Sen’s execution faltered, making Shifeng appear even stronger.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar