Lakshya Sen storms into Macau Open 2025 semifinals with thrilling victory over China's Zhu Xuan Chen. The 23-year-old Indian shuttler won 21-14, 18-21, 21-14 in his best BWF World Tour performance this year. Currently ranked 17th globally with net worth of Rs 41 crore, Sen's journey from Almora to international badminton stardom inspires millions. Viktor Axelsen predicts Olympic gold for the Commonwealth Games champion. Game Mitras covers his incredible rise and future medal prospects.

Lakshya Sen Shines at Macau Open 2025: Rising Star's Incredible Journey

You know that feeling when everything just clicks? That's exactly what happened to Lakshya Sen at the Macau Open this week. Game Mitras brings you this amazing story about India's badminton sensation making waves in 2025. The 23-year-old shuttler is proving once again why he's one of Asia's most exciting badminton talents.

Macau Open Success Story

Lakshya Sen showed incredible determination during his recent Macau Open match. He faced China's Zhu Xuan Chen in what turned out to be a nail-biting contest. The second-seeded Indian player won the opening game comfortably with a 21-14 score. But then things got interesting - he lost the second game 18-21 despite leading 17-14 at one point.

You could see his fighting spirit in the third game though. Lakshya dominated that final set and closed out the match 21-14, 18-21, 21-14. The whole thing took him exactly one hour and three minutes to complete. This performance marked his deepest run in any BWF World Tour event during 2025.

The best part? He'll now face Indonesia's Alwi Farhan in the semifinals. This is huge for Indian badminton fans who've been waiting to see their favorite player shine on the international stage again.

From Almora to Global Recognition

Let's talk about how this young man got here. Lakshya Sen age is 23 years old - he was born on August 16, 2001. His journey started in the beautiful hill town of Almora in Uttarakhand. Can you imagine a small-town boy from the mountains becoming India's badminton superstar?

Lakshya Sen height stands at 1.78 meters, which is about 5 feet 10 inches. That might not sound super tall for a professional athlete, but in badminton, it's perfect. His reach and agility make him a nightmare for opponents on the court.

He started playing badminton when he was just 4 years old. His father introduced him to the sport, and by 2010, little Lakshya was already convincing his dad to let him compete in tournaments. A coach noticed his talent and recommended him to none other than Prakash Padukone. That's when his real journey began.

The Numbers Game

Lakshya Sen ranking currently stands at 17th in the world. But here's something cool - his highest ranking was 6th in November 2022. That shows you just how good this guy can be when he's firing on all cylinders.

The Macau Open quarterfinal was against world number 48 Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia. Lakshya being ranked 17th made him the clear favorite, but badminton doesn't care about rankings when you're on the court. He had to work hard for that 21-14, 14-21, 21-17 victory.

His teammate Tharun Mannepalli also made headlines by reaching the semifinals. The 23-year-old, ranked 47th in the world, beat China's Hu Zhe (ranked 87th) in a 75-minute battle. This gives India two players in the men's singles semifinals - that's pretty impressive!

Viktor Axelsen Connection

You can't talk about Lakshya Sen without mentioning his rivalry with Viktor Axelsen. Lakshya Sen vs Viktor Axelsen has become one of badminton's most exciting matchups. The Danish champion actually predicted great things for our Indian star.

After beating Lakshya in the Paris Olympics semifinals, Axelsen said something beautiful. "Lakshya is an amazing player. He has shown in this Olympics that he is a very, very strong competitor and I am sure in four years from now, he will be one of the favourites to win the gold".

The Olympic champion even admitted that Lakshya played better than him in big parts of their semifinal match. "He could have won the match," Axelsen said honestly. That's some serious respect from the world's best player!

Their head-to-head record shows Lakshya has beaten Viktor once - at the 2022 German Open final. Out of their 9 meetings, Viktor has won 8 times. But that one victory proves Lakshya can beat anybody on his day.

The Hardware Collection

Lakshya Sen medals collection is pretty impressive for someone his age. He won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. That victory against Malaysia's Ng Tze Yong in the final was absolutely thrilling.

Game Mitras covered his incredible journey to that Commonwealth Games gold. He also has medals from various other tournaments. His bronze at the Asian Games and silver at the Youth Olympics in 2018 show his consistency at the highest level.

The Arjuna Award winner in 2022 has also claimed titles at the BWF World Tour level. His first BWF World Tour title came at the Dutch Open in 2019. Since then, he's been adding more trophies to his collection regularly.

Money Matters

Let's be honest - you're probably curious about Lakshya Sen net worth. Reports suggest it's around Rs 41 crore. That's a pretty impressive number for a 23-year-old athlete! His earnings come from tournament prize money, brand endorsements, and social media activities.

The Macau Open itself has a total prize pool of $370,000. Winners in singles get $27,750, while runners-up receive $14,060. Semifinalists earn $5,365, which isn't bad for a week's work. These tournaments add up quickly when you're performing consistently.

His net worth is likely to keep growing with more tournament successes. Game Mitras believes his Olympic medal potential could open even bigger endorsement doors in the future.

The Equipment Game

Badminton fans always ask about Lakshya Sen racket choice. While specific details about his current racket aren't widely published, professional players usually work with equipment sponsors. Most top players use rackets that are customized specifically for their playing style.

The weight, string tension, and grip size all matter hugely in badminton. Different tournaments might require slight adjustments based on court conditions and altitude. At venues like the Macau East Asian Games Dome, players need to account for air conditioning and local weather.

Professional badminton rackets can cost anywhere from $200 to $500. But for players at Lakshya's level, sponsors usually provide multiple rackets for practice and matches. They also have backup rackets ready in case strings break during important points.

What's Next for the Rising Star

The semifinals at Macau Open represent just the beginning for Lakshya Sen's 2025 campaign. This tournament performance shows he's finding his rhythm again after some early-season struggles. His ranking of 17th puts him close to being seeded as a top 8 player again.

The Thailand Open and other upcoming tournaments will be crucial for building momentum. Lakshya Sen Thailand Open performances in the past have been solid, and fans expect more of the same this year.

With new coaching setups and training methods, Indian badminton is evolving rapidly. Lakshya represents the new generation of players who can compete with anyone in the world. His fighting spirit and never-give-up attitude make him dangerous in any tournament.

You should definitely keep watching this space. Game Mitras will continue bringing you updates on Lakshya's journey toward Los Angeles 2028. Viktor Axelsen's prediction about him winning Olympic gold might just come true sooner than we think.

The Macau Open semifinals are just the beginning. When you see Lakshya play next, remember you're watching someone who could make history for Indian badminton. His story from Almora to the world stage proves that dreams really do come true with hard work and determination.

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