'Winning Tournaments Is My Priority, Not Becoming World No. 1': Lakshya Sen

Lakshya Sen has spent much of the year fighting battles that have not always been visible on the badminton court. There have been injuries, interrupted preparations, the grind of an unforgiving international calendar and performances that have not always matched his expectations. But as he returns from the Hylo Open with another title, the Indian shuttler appears to have found some clarity about what matters most. It is not the race to become World No. 1. Not yet, at least. For Sen, the priority is simpler: stay healthy, keep competing and win tournaments.

"More than that, winning tournaments is my priority," Sen said during a media interaction after winning his second Hylo Open title, a victory that also made him the first Indian male shuttler to win the tournament twice.

The 25-year-old has had an eventful season. His run to the All England final in March offered an early indication of his form and potential. He was in good shape physically and producing the kind of badminton that suggested a big year could follow. But injuries and fitness concerns disrupted that momentum.

"I was really in good shape. But I think post that, 2-3 runs down the line, there were some negligence, there were some injury issues which kept me away from the court. But again, nothing so major that I could miss out on the big events," he said.

The World Championships in India and the Asian Games were among the major assignments on his calendar. The results, however, did not quite go according to plan.

"Obviously, the performances as we planned didn't go well. But again, I was ready and I was out there fighting, trying hard to win every tournament that I play," Sen said.

His latest title has offered a timely boost. Beating Frenchman Toma Junior Popov in the semifinal and former World No. 1 Jonatan Christie in the final, both in straight games, was a reminder of the level Sen can reach when his game and body come together.

The victory was particularly significant given the way his week had unfolded. His early rounds went the distance, and he admitted that he was still finding his rhythm after skipping the Denmark Open.

"First one or two rounds, I was still a bit rusty, like in the shot selection," he said.

As the tournament progressed, however, his feel for the court improved. Against Christie, patience proved just as important as attacking intent. Sen had built a comfortable lead in the opening game but had to negotiate a period when the Indonesian began finding his rhythm and drawing him into longer rallies.

"The coach was telling me to just stay patient in the rally," Sen recalled.

His approach was to wait for the right opportunities rather than force the pace. "The strategy was to not just go attacking but again, wait for the right chances, play the steady game from the net, like control a lot more from the net because at times he also has a very good attack."

It was a performance built on discipline as much as aggression. And perhaps that is what Sen needs most as he negotiates the next phase of his career. The physical demands of the badminton calendar remain a concern. Sen spoke candidly about the challenge of competing through the year while managing niggles that can affect preparation and performance.

He had to withdraw from the French Open because of shoulder pain following the Denmark Open, and has been increasingly conscious of how much he asks of his body.

"At times, listen to your body, if it's not ready, it's not ready," he said. That was also the thinking behind skipping the Denmark Open and returning to competition at Hylo. With the Japan Masters and Hong Kong Open coming up, Sen is keen to use his brief return home to recover, train and spend time with his family during Diwali.

The World Tour Finals remain an important consideration, making the next two tournaments significant for his season. But he is unwilling to compromise his fitness simply to add more events to his schedule.

"I just do not have to rush and play all the events out there. Stay patient for the body to be 100% fit and then compete again," he said.

There is also a wider opportunity in men's singles badminton. The current landscape is unusually competitive, with several players capable of beating one another on any given day. The prospect of a new dominant figure emerging is tempting, but Sen is not getting carried away by rankings or statistics.

"Top 15, 20, 30 people, anyone can beat anyone on a given day," he said.

For now, the focus is on consistency of performance rather than the pursuit of a particular ranking. Asked whether he wanted to target specific titles in the coming season, Sen made it clear that his ambitions remain high, even if his approach has become more measured.

"Yes, I want to win the titles. I want to win the biggest competition. But again, at the same time, the competitions out there, it's very tough every week."

There is a sense that Sen is learning to balance ambition with patience. The disappointment of missed opportunities has not diminished his appetite for the biggest prizes, but the experience of an injury-interrupted season has reinforced the importance of getting the basics right.

"At this stage, I just want to go out there and keep performing my best for the country every time I step onto the court," he said.

For a player who has already experienced the highs of an All England final and the frustrations of a stop-start season, that may be the most important takeaway from Hylo. The titles will remain the target. But staying fit enough to chase them is the priority.

Featured Video Of The Day

CWG 2026 Weightlifting Gold Medallist, Mirabai Chanu Get Hero's Welcome in Delhi