Lakshya Sen’s transformation from prankster to world-beater

Vimal Kumar, Lakshya Sen’s transformation the coach, explains how the once-homesick All England Open finalist has evolved into a steely, thinking individual.

Vimal Kumar recalls an 8-year-old prankster’s face melting into a puddle of tears when caught in the act. Lakshya Sen’s transformation could also pull a cute frown and act as if he had nothing to do with whatever shady business. And then he sobbed after losing a match. Vimal is still perplexed as he watches Sen at the All England this week, all these years later. About how liquid steel began coursing through Sen’s veins these last six months.

Something has completely changed. He believes he is capable of achieving these significant victories. “There’s some steel, determination in him that’s suddenly noticeable,” Vimal Kumar says of an alloy he helped burnish. “I told him many times that ‘when you’re on the outskirts, you can be dropped at any time. You need to become the best player possible so that they come to you and say, ‘We want you to play in the team,'” says Sen’s mentor and Bangalore coach.

According to Vimal, it’s not just the Thomas Cup (non)-selection, which he missed out on after losing a trial. Many other factors contributed to Sen’s rapid maturation as a 20-year-old.

However, the young breakout star had always despised being kept away from the sport.

When the Prakash Padukone Academy’s young trainees sneaked out to watch movies at the auditorium on the top floor after being told to sleep by 10 p.m., Vimal punished them in other ways. “The best punishment is to deprive them of badminton for a week.” They never make the same mistake twice. Despite his misbehavior, he never refused training. But when they were being disobedient, I’d quietly tell them, ‘Take a week off.’ That’s all. “They despised it,” he recalls with a chuckle. “If they truly value their game, they will undoubtedly listen.” Lakshya quickly realized this.”