Lakshya Sen Boosts World Tour Finals Bid With Historic Triumph At Japan Masters 2026

India's Lakshya Sen produced a remarkable comeback on Sunday to defeat home favourite Koki Watanabe in the men's singles final, capturing the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 title and becoming the first Indian to win the tournament. After dropping the opening game, the eighth-seeded world No. 13 rallied over the next two games to secure a 13-21, 21-18, 21-14 victory in an hour and four minutes. Following a tightly contested second game that forced a decider, Sen delivered a dominant display in the third, taking a crucial 11-7 lead at the mid-game interval before extending his advantage to nine points and denying Watanabe any chance of a comeback.

The triumph caps off a brilliant run of form for Sen, who reached the final in Japan riding the momentum of back-to-back final appearances and a recent title victory at the Hylo Open in Germany. En route to Sunday's championship clash, he also delivered a tactical masterclass in the semi-finals, dismantling sixth seed Alwi Farhan in three games to snap a two-match losing streak against the Indonesian.

Beyond the historic silverware, the 9,200 ranking points on offer for the champion provide a decisive boost to Sen's season-ending campaign, propelling his push to climb from 12th into the top eight of the BWF World Tour standings and secure a coveted spot in the BWF World Tour Finals.

More to follow...

Featured Video Of The Day

Spain Vs Argentina | Dani Olmo On WC Triumph: 'Wanted To Set An Example For The Next Generation'