Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen admitted that the increasing physical demands of modern men’s singles badminton are forcing him to rethink recovery and preparation, even as he continues to process the disappointment of finishing runner-up at the All England Open Badminton Championships for the second time.
The 24-year-old from Almora endured a demanding week in Birmingham, battling through several long matches before losing the final to Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei.
Reflecting on the tournament, Sen described it as both rewarding and emotionally challenging.
“It’s been a good week overall, but also an emotional week. Getting into the finals for the second time and not winning, it feels a little bit disheartened after the match,” he said. “But overall, if I look back at the tournament, some good wins, a good run and the way I played the matches, I think something to look forward to in the coming tournaments.”
Sen spent more than five hours on court across the week, including a gruelling semifinal in which he struggled with severe cramps. The intense schedule, he said, highlighted the need to carefully manage training, diet and recovery.
“It has been very physical in the matches and tournaments and also with the age, I mean, I’m not 20 anymore to recover as fast as I am,” Sen said. “I’m not saying I’m old, but there are changes you make in terms of preparation, recovery and especially diet.”
The Indian shuttler explained that physical maintenance has become increasingly important as his career progresses. Earlier in his career, he said, diet and recovery required less attention, but that has now changed as the competition becomes more demanding.
He also acknowledged that injuries, particularly shoulder issues from his attacking style of play, have forced him to be more cautious with workload and scheduling.
“There has been a little bit of a shift where the recovery part I’m taking much more care of between tournaments to stay injury free,” Sen said.
Looking ahead, Sen identified the Badminton Asia Championships and the BWF World Championships as two of his main targets this season. He plans to review his All England performance with his team to refine his training and improve both fitness and tactical aspects of his game.
Sen also credited mental trainer Mon Brockman for helping him handle the pressures of the international circuit and develop a clearer mindset during major tournaments.
Despite the heartbreak of another All England final defeat, Sen believes the experience has strengthened his belief that he can compete for the biggest titles. Having first reached the final in 2022, he said his mindset this time was very different.
“This time I had that belief throughout the tournament that I can win and I can win the tournament,” he said.
After a challenging period following the Paris 2024 Olympics and several injury setbacks, Sen says he now feels physically stronger and more confident as he prepares for the major events ahead.
