Lakshya Sen beats Koki Watanabe to win Kumamoto Masters Japan Open
Lakshya Sen won the Kumamoto Masters Japan Open, defeating Koki Watanabe in a match that lasted over an hour. The victory moves Sen into a strong position for the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
Why it matters
The win is a critical milestone for Sen's professional career, providing the necessary ranking points to qualify for the season-ending championship.
Kumamoto (Japan) A tenacious Lakshya Sen capped another impressive week on the BWF Tour with a second consecutive title, clinching the Kumamoto Masters Japan crown with a thrilling win in the final over home favourite Koki Watanabe in Kumamoto on Sunday (November 15, 2026). World No. 13 Lakshya, who won the Hylo Open title, displayed his mental grit as he outsmarted Watanabe 13-21, 21-18, 21-14 in a pulsating summit clash that lasted an hour and four minutes, moving into a qualifying position for the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou. Eighth seed Lakshya was 12th in the Race to Finals standings with 64,980 points before this event, and needed to break into the top eight to qualify for the season-ending event.
Headlinne story · 4 newsrooms
Lakshya Sen Wins Kumamoto Masters Badminton Title in Three Games
What every outlet reported, where they differ, and how each framed it →
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