Lakshya bang on target

There is a certain sense of calmness and confidence that Lakshya Sen exudes. As he sits down for a chat post another gruelling training session at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) in Bengaluru, there isn’t a single moment the young shuttler looks out of sorts.

Questions are received in a composed manner and the answers are frank. “These are things that I have been taught,” he says when questioned about the unusual calmness for a boy of his age.

Just 16, Lakshya is one of the brightest badminton prospects of the country. He has a number of junior titles to his name, scaled to the top of the world junior rankings in February, made it to the final of the men’s singles at the Senior National Championships a week after, claimed a bronze medal at the Junior Asian Championships and recently won his first overseas senior title at the Bulgaria Open.

“It feels good, really good to be achieving everything that I have so far. Be it the number one ranking or the Bulgaria title, these things are the result of the hard work that I have been putting in,” he says.

“It’s good to see that your hard work hasn’t gone waste. I know the amount of effort and time I put into the game and that has translated into results in the juniors and now the senior circuit. While all of this is very satisfying, I am not happy with the results that I have achieved. I want to do more. I want to win more,” he continues.

Hungry for success

It is this hunger that brought the then nine-year-old Lakshya to Bengaluru from his home state Uttarakhand seven years ago. Training under the guidance of his father DK Sen, a Sports Authority of India coach, Lakshya was part of a group of youngsters that had come down to compete in a National-ranking tournament at PPBA. And with PPBA deciding to take in a new batch of youngsters for the academy, there was a chance that Lakshya would make the cut.

“That was the year we were taking in a lot of youngsters,” Vimal Kumar, the chief coach at PPBA had said on Lakshya’s arrival. “Initially we overlooked him. He was too young. We wanted to take his brother Chirag. But the young man was adamant about moving to PPBA. He persisted, so we signed on both brothers. And he has justified our faith.”

Staying away from his parents and his home at a tender age has been hard for Lakshya. But just like his name suggests — target — the young man has a goal, and he wants to achieve it at any cost. “Yes, it was difficult. But I wanted to play and stay here and improve. I had set myself a target and the only way to achieve that was to be here,” he states. His brother Chirag, a shuttler himself, has been a constant source of encouragement to Lakshya, helping him navigate the difficult times. “He being here has been my biggest help. For all you know, I would have pulled out years ago. I was with my brother so that has helped. The days I used to miss home he used to come in and lighten my mood.

“If he’s around I am not worried. You know there’s always someone that you can bank upon. And specially coming to Bengaluru at a young age, he’s been of a great help. I don’t know how things would have turned out if he wasn’t here. I am happy that I always had company and someone to look up to.”

Having progressed through the ranks over the years, it is not often the two brothers meet now-a-days. But whenever they do, they ensure they make the most of it. “There isn’t much (free time). Both of us are pretty much into the sport. He is traveling and playing and so am I. We barely meet once the season gets rolling. But off-season we are together and that’s really fun. Be it movies, or anything else. It’s good when he’s around.”

Having proved his worth on the junior circuit, Lakshya is at a stage when he has to ensure that his talent makes a mark on the senior circuit too. Though he knows the transition will be a difficult task, the 16-year-old is ready for the challenge. “It will be difficult. It’s stupid to think at that senior level you’ll get an easy game. That doesn’t happen.

Bigger challenge

“Everyone there is in top shape and everyone wants to win. It’s all about who wants it more and who’s willing to push for that. Moreover, at the senior level every player is different. Every player has a different style. So my progress will also depend on how much and how quickly I can adapt to the changes,” he explains.

A quick retriever of the shuttle, Lakshya knows he has to work on his strength and will have to stay in a rally longer if has to have any chance at the senior level. “I need to improve my strength. I have to work more and play harder. I need to be fit. I have to hit hard, move faster and ensure that I stay in the rally for long. In the senior level, you barely get an opening (to score a point). You need to keep retrieving and keep pushing the shuttle back as long as the other player commits a mistake.”

Training under the watchful eyes of former national champion Sayali Gokhale at PPBA, Lakshya has made big strides. But Sayali says the young man has a long way to go. “He has the potential and the willingness to learn and improve, so that’s good,” she says.

“He’s a hard hitter and smart on the court. He can create openings to score but that just isn’t enough. He will have to play long rallies and stay on the court for long. That’s something he has to work on and he knows that.”

And with Padukone mentoring this young talent, Lakshya is eager to garner the most from the legend.

“I meet him every now and then. Every time I return from a tournament, I have a chat with him. He keeps asking me what’s happening, what went wrong if I didn’t win, or what more can be added to my game and so on. He has a very simple message -- be serious about the sport, be disciplined, be professional and respect the sport.”