All England Championships 2024: Lakshya beats world no. 3 Antonsen, enters quarters; erratic Sindhu bows out

London, Mar 14: India's Lakshya Sen achieved a remarkable victory in a thrilling three-game match against world No. 3 Anders Antonsen, securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the All England Championships on Thursday (March 14). However, PV Sindhu, plagued by errors, suffered a defeat in the women's singles second round on Thursday.

Sen, ranked 18th globally, exhibited resilience, bouncing back from a challenging situation in the decisive game after dropping the second game. Ultimately, he triumphed 24-22, 11-21, 21-14 over Antonsen, a three-time medalist at the World Championships, in a contentious second-round encounter.

Contrastingly, Sindhu, a double Olympic medalist, displayed initial promise but couldn't contain her mistakes against world No. 1 An Se Young of Korea, succumbing to a 19-21, 11-21 loss.

This marked Sindhu's seventh consecutive defeat against the formidable An Se Young, the reigning World Championships titleholder. Despite entering the match with a 1-3 record against Antonsen, Sen showcased a commendable performance. Although Antonsen initially rallied, Sen demonstrated his prowess by clinching key points, ultimately securing victory.

In the decider, Antonsen initially dominated, but Sen staged a remarkable comeback, equalizing the score at 13-13. An intense rally ensued, leading to a fault called against Antonsen, which fueled Sen's momentum. Sen capitalized on his opportunities, clinching victory with a powerful smash.

In Sindhu's match, despite her efforts to mount an offensive, An Se Young's superior gameplay proved insurmountable. Sindhu struggled with errors, particularly in the second game, allowing An Se Young to seize control and secure a convincing win.

Reflecting on her performance, Sindhu acknowledged her opponent's prowess and emphasized the need for patience and improvement in her game. She recognized her mistakes and highlighted the importance of diligence and technical refinement in facing top-tier opponents like An Se Young.

"She is, of course, the top player now. But I should have been much more patient, I made unforced errors. There were easy mistakes," Sindhu said.

"In the first game, it was fine but then I was coming closer and then giving away those two-three points. But I think in the second set I gave her a huge lead, and then I was making receiving mistakes.

"It's important to keep up with her for that we need to work hard and be patient, work hard on our skill and technique."