Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn emerged victorious in the German Open Super 300 men's singles final on Sunday, beating Lakshya Sen with a score of 21-18, 21-15. Sen's performance was hampered by a visible leg injury, specifically blisters on his left foot that made movement difficult. This physical setback is a cause for concern for the young Indian athlete as he prepares for the upcoming All England Open.
Sen had put in a phenomenal effort in the semifinals to take down the top-ranked Viktor Axelsen. It was a hard-fought battle lasting over an hour, where the 20-year-old's defensive play was a match for Axelsen's power. The final set was incredibly tight, moving point-for-point in the early stages. Even after falling behind 8-15, Sen kept his cool and clawed his way back to win 22-20, marking a milestone win against the Olympic gold medalist. Unfortunately, the exertion and injury from that match took a heavy toll on him in the final.
Both fought hard for every single point in the decider. From 2-2, it was 4-4 and then 6-6 before Axelsen raced ahead 15-8. However, Sen held his nerves and looked calm to win the decider game 22-20 and register his first win over the Olympic champion.
Despite the pain, Lakshya Sen showed flashes of his usual brilliance in the final, attempting several comebacks through sheer defensive effort. However, the intensity of his injury prevented him from truly challenging Vitidsarn. On the other side of the net, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, a three-time Junior World Champion, played a clinical match, spending 58 minutes to earn his first BWF title as a senior professional.
The match started evenly with both players tied at 4-4, but Vitidsarn soon took control by varying his pace. He kept Sen guessing with a mix of clever drop shots and powerful smashes, effectively knocking the Indian player off balance and building a comfortable 12-6 lead. Sen fought back, utilizing the net to narrow the gap to 15-16. Yet, Vitidsarn stayed sharp, using an overhead cross-court drop to reach game point before sealing the first set with a decisive cross-court smash.
Vitidsarn maintained his momentum in the second set, quickly establishing a 7-3 lead. He kept the pressure high, preventing Sen from finding any rhythm and extending his advantage to 11-5 after the interval. Though Sen showed grit by winning four consecutive points, Vitidsarn's precise cross-court strategy pushed the score to 19-15. The match ended when Sen hit a return into the net, prompting Vitidsarn to celebrate his victory with a knee slide.