Korean coach Yoo Yong-Sung reunites with Lakshya Sen ahead of Paris Olympics

Yoo Yong-sung is expected to travel to Marseille with Lakshya Sen for a training stint.

South Korean coach Yoo Yong-Sung is all set to reunite with ace Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024, as reported by Hindustan Times, on Tuesday. The 49-year-old had previously trained the Commonwealth Games champion in 2022 guiding him to the final of the All England Open Badminton Championship.

“It’s nice to be back with Lakshya. Iam going to be with him for a month or so for now”, Sung told HT. Lakshya, 22, hasn’t had a great 2024 so far, not winning a single title, while his best outing was at the French Open and All England Open, reaching the semifinals on both occasions.

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Meanwhile, in the last couple of months, Lakshya’s performances have been below par, advancing beyond the round of 16 stage only once, that was at the recently concluded Indonesia Masters. Nevertheless, the world no. #14 has already secured a World Championship bronze back in 2021 and is one of India’s brightest medal prospects at the upcoming summer Olympics.

The Uttarakhand shuttler is working hard to fine tune his defense. He said, ” At times when I’am hitting hard, my opponnets are already anticipating it and waiting in the back court, I need to bring in sharp drops, change it up a bit and keep them guessing”. Lakshya has one more tournament, the Canada Open in early July, before he will make his Olympic debut in the French capital.

Lakshya played an integral part in India’s maiden Thomas Cup triumph in May 2022, getting the better of Olympic bronze medalist Anthony Ginting in the final. Three months later the Prakash Padukone academy graduate clinched his first Commonwealth Games gold medal, with a scintillating come-from-behind win over Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong.

Meanwhile, Sung had a decorated playing career, winning the Olympic silver medal in men’s doubles at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Games alongside Lee Dong-soo. The 49-year-old had previously coached national teams of Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

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