“I have rarely seen such an incredible display of courage, resilience, and heart on a badminton court,” Vimal

Lakshya Sen’s thrilling and exhausting semifinal victory at the All England Open on Saturday in Birmingham left the Indian shuttler drained, but a heartfelt message from his coach Vimal Kumar quickly lifted his spirits ahead of the final.

Vimal was supposed to be in Lakshya’s corner, but unfortunately he had to cancel his travel plans because of the ongoing travel crisis due to the war in the Middle East.

Dronacharya Awardee coach

An Olympian and Dronacharya Awardee coach, Vimal Kumar has played a pivotal role in shaping Lakshya’s career, and nobody was happier than him to see him make it to the final.

Immediately after his victory against Viktor Lai, Vimal sent this message to Lakshya.

Physically draining

Lakshya, “You have made us all incredibly proud. For me, the determination and resilience you showed today were truly unmatched. It was a physically draining contest of the highest intensity, yet you fought every point with remarkable courage.

Right tactics

You employed the right tactics against Viktor Lai—controlling the pace of the match and refusing to give him the fast rhythm he thrives on. In the opening game, you kept him from settling into any real flow and dictated the terms of the rallies.

The second game was a battle of sheer endurance, with long, punishing rallies. To fight your way back to 16–16 showed tremendous grit and character. The service fault call at that crucial moment was unfortunate and broke the momentum you had worked so hard to build.

With a painful blister

To play through the match with a painful blister on your foot, without even being able to get treatment during the break, and still push yourself despite the cramps—that speaks volumes about your fighting spirit.

I have rarely seen such an incredible display of courage, resilience, and heart on a badminton court. A performance to remember,” wrote Vimal to Lakshya.

EOM