Lakshya Sen fought valiantly but lost to Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in the semifinals of the Japan Masters 2025, a BWF World Tour Super 500 event held in Kumamoto City.
The Commonwealth Games champion, seeded seventh, went down 19‑21, 21‑14, 12‑21 in a match that lasted one hour and 17 minutes.
The contest between two evenly‑matched players hinged on consistency and tactical awareness. Sen started strongly, racing to an 8‑3 lead in the opening game. However, Nishimoto seized momentum with seven consecutive points to edge ahead 10‑9. Despite Sen’s fightback, Nishimoto’s steep smashes and precise drops earned him the first game 21‑19.
In the second game, Sen slowed rallies and stitched together a run of points to take an 8‑7 lead. He dominated with sharp cross‑court smashes and delicate net play, surging to a 20‑14 advantage before clinching the game 21‑14 to level the match.
The decider saw Nishimoto rediscover his rhythm. He attacked relentlessly, moving ahead 7‑3 with body smashes and forcing errors from Sen. By the interval, Nishimoto led 11‑7 and continued to press, stretching the score to 17‑9. Sen eventually went wide, handing Nishimoto eight match points. The Japanese sealed victory with a clean smash, booking his place in the final.
Nishimoto will face either compatriot Kodai Naraoka or Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu Wei in the title clash. For Sen, the defeat marked a spirited effort but underlined the challenge of sustaining momentum against top‑ranked opponents.
