Despite going down in the semi-finals, Lakshya Sen had time to remember as he clinched his first medal–a bronze at the World Junior Championship in Canada. He was defeated by World no 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
Playing in just his third tournament Sen played out a contest that lasted for an hour and 11 minutes where he lost 20-22, 21-16, 21-13.
The 17-year old Sen had earlier got the better of Vitidsarn in the finals of the Badminton Asia junior championships last year. He had won in straight sets in that game. But he failed to repeat that feat this time around.
But Sen, even in defeat had his share of history as he became India’s only medal winner at the event and first since Sameer Verma’s bronze in 2011.
Vitidsarn, who is also the defending champion would now take on Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the final. Naraoka had defeated Li Shifeng of China 21-11, 19-21 and 21-17 in the other semi-final of the day.
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