Lakshya Sen was a proficient cross-country runner in his childhood

Bengaluru, August 20: Lakshya Sen has been unique since his childhood. Before taking up badminton seriously at the age of nine the 16-year old prodigious badminton player was a regular member in the cross-country runs that used to place in Almora, the place where he lives.

According to his father D K Sen, Lakshya used to take part in 5 kilometers cross-country runs amidst the jungle and hilly region of Uttarakhand and in most of the competitions Lakshya was the champion!

D K Sen, speaking from Almora over phone on the day his son earned sensational title in the Belgium Open on Thursday (August 17) said, "I have two sons, Lakshya and Chirag. Both play badminton. But Lakshya is unique since his childhood."

"He is so competitive since his early days that everybody became surprised. In the school, Lakshya always stood first or second."

"In the cross-country runs he always returned home with trophies. Even after having started badminton seriously at my coaching camp in Almora Laksha often used to take part in those 5 kilometers runs."

"His mother got anxious as the thin roads through the jungle of Binsar were not always safe for people. The leopards often crossed the roads. But I had not seen Lakshya being worried about those things."

D K Sen is also a badminton coach in Almora and in a similar way like the cross-country runs Lakshya had same competitiveness and determination when he had begun practicing badminton.

Then the 16-year boy had impressed Prakash Padukone and Vimal Kumar during a tournament in Bangalore in 2011 and Lakshya was immediately admitted to Prakash Padukone academy.

D K Sen revealed, "In Almora Lakshya used to clean up the badminton court before starting practice. After joining Prakash Padukone academy Lakshya maintained the same habit of cleaning up badminton court and start training."

Vimal Kumar when contacted for his reaction, said, "Lakshya is highly potential. In future he can be country's one of the best men's singles players."