India, Jan. 15 -- Despite trailing 11-16 in the first game against Kenta Nishimoto, Lakshya Sen didn't look worried. On the contrary, he gave his team a thumbs up when he was asked by his father DK Sen and coach Yoo Yong-sung, sitting in the coach's corner, to ensure that his lifts were deep.

"My dad and coach were saying that I'm lifting (the shuttle) short and to try and lift a bit higher. Every time I was lifting it short, he was getting a weak return and the whole rally, I was struggling. I had to play a bit more freely on the lifts," said Sen.

Sen listened to the words of wisdom and in a few minutes, he had levelled the score at 18-all before taking the game. By the time the second game started, the world No.14 had shattered the Ja...