Latest news with #Super750JapanOpen
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Why Lakshya Sen's muddled shot selection and unstinging smash has coach Vimal Kumar worried
To the question 'Is it a good time to start panicking?' coach Vimal Kumar might just bluntly tell his ward Lakshya Sen, 'Now might be just right.' It is not the losing margin of 21-19, 21-11 against Japanese World No 7 Kodai Naraoka at the Super 750 Japan Open. But the decision-making during that inordinately long 54 minutes for the straight sets crumble, that might be a cause of worry for the coach. Sen played portions of the game where he showed he can counter his Japanese contemporary, till 17-17 in the opening set. His subsequent careening off the course and eventual defeat was somewhat a regression of his game, from how he used to play 2 years ago and right till the Paris Olympics bronze playoff, first set to be precise. It is entirely expected that coming that close to a medal and not winning would have broken Sen a little. He is also battling shoulder and ankle injuries, managing which can make him circumspect on attack. But the crux of the disintegration happened from 17-17 to trailing 17-20, in allowing Naraoka to edge ahead. And it is this finishing freeze that bothers the seasoned coach no end. 'I'm disappointed and a little concerned. Till 17-all he was OK, but Lakshya should have taken the first game,' the coach says. 'He's still not applying himself in those crucial situations. He needed to push pace for Kodai can be beaten when you vary pace.' Sen couldn't inject speed and the shot selection entirely failed him. Luck doesn't just favour the brave but also cackles at passivity and tentativeness in sport. In what was a recurring instance, Sen's net play remained completely blurred and faltering, and his attempt to hack at a dribble (or was it a lift?) clipped the chord and fell on his own side, on a poor day to give Kodai the opener 21-19. The speed at which Naraoka played was taking a toll on his endurance, and he was panting wildly but at 5-1 came another chance for the Indian – albeit after a winner that left the crowd agape. Naraoka picked a shuttle low on his backhand flank in the midcourt and recovered so quickly that his forehand push on the next shot on the opposite side found an empty court as Sen was too stunned to react. The Indian made it 6-10 from 1-8 down, erringly believing Naraoka had tired, but once again didn't continue the momentum, and had no answers to crosscourt smashes to his forehand lines. His net sharpness was abysmal and the lifts were lollipops offered to invite smashes. On his net game, Vimal said, 'Lakshya was not sharp at the net and Kodai was comfortable playing him. The shuttle wasn't spinning in dribbles or tumbles leading to errors and lifts were not great,' he said. Sen should have used punch clears to open up the court, for Kodai could only play retrievable drops to the back. 'Either the clears or a good length on the lifts. But it didn't work out.' Sen wasn't unaware of where things were falling apart. 'It was a very physical match for both of us, rallies were very long. First game was important for me. I had my chances in the first. If I had taken maybe pushed it to third. But let's see. He played a very solid game. I feel second set had lot of easy errors from my side. I couldn't really get the length and played too many short length shots from the net,' the 23-year-old, now ranked No 18, told BWF. Of greater concern to Vimal is the health of the Lakshya Sen-smash. It's tepid right now, and costing him games. 'When I speak to him he says shoulder is OK. But maybe back of his mind, he's still wary and hence tentative (about injury). But the big problem is when he comes under the shuttle (ideal position), his hard smashes onnthe body lack sting,' the coach explains. 'Last couple of years it's becoming a little ineffective.' So even if Sen ran around perfectly, anticipated and got under the bird, the smash couldn't get him the winner. 'He tends to play slices and half smashes, but he's not employing the hard smash from good positions. Typically if he hits one and it gets returned, the next two three shots lack the same power and sting so he can't finish the down stroke,' he explains. Closing out sets has been particularly confounding. 'He got tentative at 17-17 and gave away easy points. He needed to be bold there,' Vimal says. A large part of it, is functioning or pushing a higher pace, but the Sen mentality almost shrivels, as if apologetic about taking the set, grabbing the match by its collar. While a confidence crisis is visible, Vimal believes only by gritting it out against big names will he regain confidence. Asked if it could be viewed as a conservative buildup to the World Championship next month, Vimal, always blunt, stated, 'No, losing is a terrible way to build up for wins in a big event. He just needs to train for his strokes harder.' While some might prescribe playing smaller events and winning titles to regain confidence, neither coach nor player would settle for that placebo, and will have to gulp down bitter losses and plod on. 'This level (Super 750) I've played few matches in past 2-3 months,' Sen told BWF. But this is the kind of level I want to play, week in, week out. Definitely this was good experience for me. It will help me in coming tournaments and in World Championships,' Sen hinted at what's whirling in his mind. Sen ceded he knew what was lacking. 'Against Kodai, you have to earn every point. No easy points. He's a very steady player. So you just have to wait for the right chance to …he has a solid defense, so I have to be sharp in my attack,' he said. He next heads to China Open, a Super 1000 at Changzhou. Chastised a little and hungry to prove a point at a big event – that might well add some sting to the smash, though Vimal insists he needs to fight harder.
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
You're being watched, Rexy warns Aaron-Wooi Yik, Wei Chong-Kai Wun
KUALA LUMPUR: National coaching director Rexy Mainaky has cautioned Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun that they will be closely watched and monitored in tournaments leading up to next month's World Championships in Paris. The men's doubles pairs will be competing in next week's Super 750 Japan Open and the Super 1000 China Open from July 20-25. World No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik have won three titles this year, while world No. 7 Wei Chong-Kai Wun have captured two victories on the World Tour. Their impressive records make them strong contenders in the men's doubles event at the World Championships on Aug 25-31. "Rivals will be closely watching and monitoring Aaron-Wooi Yik and Wei Chong-Kai Wun in Japan and China. However, if they remain focused and maintain momentum, they should have no fear," said Rexy. "All of the top pairs are competing, and these two events will be used as a yardstick for how they might perform at the World Championships. "Normally, Super 750 and Super 1000 tournaments are compulsory for the top 10 pairs, and none of the leading pairs have withdrawn from the Japan Open next week. "These tournaments are not like a Super 300 event, which is typically used as a warm-up before major competitions. "I expect quality competition in Japan and China, as everyone wants to gauge the level of their pairs." Aaron-Wooi Yik have enjoyed a brilliant run this season, winning the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC), the Thailand Open and the Singapore Open, besides finishing runners-up to Wei Chong-Kai Wun at the Malaysia Masters. Wei Chong-Kai Wun also won the Indonesia Masters and reached the semi-finals at the Indonesia Open. Both Malaysian pairs have outshone independent world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who have only the India Open title to their name this year. It is worth noting that Sze Fei-Izzuddin are the defending champions at both the Japan Open and China Open. Doing well in the two World Tour events will give both pairs added confidence heading into the all-important World Championships, where Aaron-Wooi Yik remain the only Malaysians to have triumphed in the prestigious event back in 2022.
New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Arif-Roy King learning to play Fire Dragon's way
KUALA LUMPUR: Men's doubles Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King are starting to adapt to coach Herry IP's intricate playing philosophy, says national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky. Rexy admitted the transition has been far from smooth for the world No. 24 since the Indonesian coach, fondly known as the Fire Dragon joined the national set-up in February. "Arif-Roy King were struggling to grasp Herry's detailed tactical style at first. It felt forced at times, especially for Arif, who seemed to lose his identity on court," said Rexy. "He didn't quite understand what kind of game he should be playing, which led to mistakes and a lack of direction." Despite early exits in four of the seven tournaments they've played under Herry, the pair showed glimpses of progress by reaching two quarter-finals and one semi-final. Rexy pointed to their second-round loss at last month's Indonesia Open, where they pushed world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun to three games as a turning point. "They looked more composed and are slowly regaining confidence," he said. Meanwhile, another national pair, Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, are still searching for consistency following injury layoffs. Rexy said the world No. 47 returned to action too soon at high-level tournaments, which made it difficult to regain form. "They came back from injury - first Hon Jian, then Haikal - and immediately played in Super 500, 750 and 1000 tournaments. It was extremely tough," he said. "We considered pulling them out of events after the Indonesia Open to focus on training, but they've already missed several tournaments. Sitting out again could slow their progress even more." Rexy believes Haikal, in particular, has lost his usual aggressive spark, a key element of his playing style. "He's not like Arif, who is calm and steady. Haikal needs to play with aggression, that's what gives him confidence," said Rexy. "I reminded him not to lose that edge. It's part of his identity. After being out for almost six months, it's natural to struggle." Rexy cited former world No. 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei as an example of even the best needing time to rediscover form after a long layoff. "Even Chong Wei needed time after six months away. Haikal-Hon Jian were climbing, then dropped. Now it's about giving them space to rebuild slowly," he added. Both pairs are currently preparing for the Super 750 Japan Open (July 15-20) and the Super 1000 China Open (July 22-27).
