Lakshya Sen beat Malaysia’s NG Tze Yong in men’s singles while Saina Nehwal lost to China’s Yue Han

Lakshya Sen progressed to the men’s singles quarter-finals of the Indonesia Masters 2023 BWF Super 500 tournament in Jakarta on Thursday.

Lakshya Sen, seeded seventh, came from behind against Malaysia’s NG Tze Yong, the world No. 28 in the latest badminton rankings, to win his round of 16 match 19-21, 21-8, 21-17.

Both players were evenly matched in the early exchanges and were tied at 13-all in the first game at a point. The Malaysian shuttler, however, broke free and took the lead.

Lakshya Sen, the reigning Commonwealth Games men’s champion, responded in style and thoroughly dominated the second game to draw level. The decider was a far tighter affair as the Indian shuttler had to win the final three points on the trot to seal his quarters berth.

In the final eight, Lakshya Sen will face either fourth seed Jonatan Christie or his fellow Indonesian Shesar Hiren Rhustavito, who had accounted for Kidambi Srikanth in the opening round.

Lakshya Sen had earlier accounted for Japanese shuttler Kodai Naraoka in straight games in the opening round.

Later in the day, India’s Saina Nehwal crashed out of the women’s singles event after a 15-21, 7-21 loss to China’s Yue Han.

The Indian Olympic medallist never managed to get a foothold in the match as Yue Han, the eighth seed in women’s singles, controlled the pace of the game from start to finish.

Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa will be in women’s doubles action in the round of 16 later in the day.