Indian men's singles badminton star Lakshya Sen has scripted history at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament by securing a spot in the final. In a grueling semifinal encounter, he defeated Indonesia's World No. 10 player Alwi Farhan to achieve the feat. With this remarkable victory, Lakshya Sen has become the first-ever Indian male badminton player to reach the final of the Japan Masters Super 500 tournament. The intense battle against the Indonesian opponent lasted for 70 minutes across three sets before the Indian shuttler sealed his berth in the championship match.
A strong start followed by a second set setback
The semifinal showdown in the men's singles event began on an exceptional note for Lakshya Sen against his Indonesian challenger Alwi Farhan. He dominated the opening set completely, leaving Alwi with no room for a comeback as he took it 21-12. Following this commanding performance, expectations were high that the Indian would wrap up the match in straight sets. However, Alwi Farhan mounted a strong recovery in the second set, taking an early lead and maintaining it throughout to win 21-15. This leveled the score at 1-1, forcing the match into a third and decisive set.
Decisive third set seals the historic victory
Putting the disappointment of the second set behind him quickly, Lakshya Sen elevated his performance in the final set and applied constant pressure on Alwi Farhan. He maintained a solid lead and clinched the third set with a score of 21-11, securing the match 2-1 and confirming his place in the final. In the title clash, he will face either Koki Watanabe or former World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn. The 2026 season has been remarkable for Lakshya Sen, marking his third final of the ongoing 2026 season following his title victory at the Hylo Open and a runner-up finish at the All England Open.
