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India’s ace shuttler Lakshya Sen has decided to pull out of the Australian Open as he has a throat infection. This also means that Sen’s slightest possibility of playing the BWF World Tour Finals has ended. The 21-year-old also cited it as one of the reasons for his decision to give the tournament a miss. Notably, the Australian Open 2022 is slated to be played from 15-20 November.
Sen picked up the throat infection just before the Hylo Open wherein he bowed out in the first round itself after losing to Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long Angus in Saarbrucken, Germany. The shuttler doubts he picked up the infection while travelling from Paris. Sen also assured that it is not that serious but still he has decided to skip the Australian Open.
"I had fever, throat pain and weakness after I reached Saarbrucken ahead of Hylo Open. I probably picked the infection while travelling from Paris," Sen, who returned to India on Saturday night, was quoted saying by PTI on Sunday.
"I thought it is not that serious. I was training last Sunday and then on Monday, I felt it had aggravated. I consulted doctor online and took medicine. It is under control now. But given the situation, I have decided to pull out of Australian Open."
The 21-year-old shuttler then shed light on how not playing at the BWF World Tour Finals affected his decision. "I had sent my entries earlier as I thought it would help me to qualify for World Tour Finals but now it is not possible anymore, so it is better that I take some weeks off, get back to full fitness and start with my off season training to be ready for the next season," said Sen.
Notably, HS Prannoy will be the only representation from India in the Men’s Singles category with Kidambi Srikanth also set to miss the year-end tournament. Srikanth is ranked 12th at the moment and it would be nearly impossible for him to finish the season in the top 8.
