India’s campaign at the Canada Open Super 500 badminton tournament concluded in disappointment as Priyanshu Rajawat suffered a straight-game loss to France’s Alex Lanier in the men’s singles semifinals. The match, held at the Markin MacPhail Centre, saw World No. 39 Rajawat succumb to the 37th-ranked Lanier in a 45-minute encounter, ending 17-21, 10-21.
Rajawat, who had created a buzz by upsetting Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the quarterfinals, started the semifinal encounter with promise, establishing a 3-0 lead. However, Lanier quickly asserted himself, taking a 7-4 advantage. The two players engaged in a fierce battle, with Rajawat managing to regain the lead on several occasions. However, he couldn’t maintain the pressure on Lanier, who responded with a decisive five-point run at 15-16 to secure the first game.
The second game proved disastrous for Rajawat. Lanier stormed out of the blocks, racing to an 8-2 lead and extending it further to 14-3. Rajawat was unable to mount any meaningful resistance as Lanier’s dominance continued, ultimately sealing the victory and sending the Indian shuttler packing.
The defeat marks a disappointing end to Rajawat’s impressive run at the tournament. Despite the setback, his performance, particularly the win over Antonsen, will likely provide valuable experience and boost his confidence for future competitions.
