Lakshya Sen continued his impressive run on the BWF World Tour by clinching the Kumamoto Masters Japan title on Sunday, overcoming home favourite Koki Watanabe in a three-game final.
The eighth-seeded Indian recovered from losing the opening game to defeat Watanabe 13-21, 21-18, 21-14 in 64 minutes. The victory gave Sen back-to-back BWF World Tour titles following his triumph at the Hylo Open earlier this month.
Watanabe controlled the opening exchanges and took the first game 21-13, but Sen responded strongly in the second. The Indian maintained his composure during the crucial stages to edge the game 21-18 and force a decider.
Sen then took charge in the final game, building an 11-7 advantage at the interval before extending his lead and eventually sealing the contest 21-14.
The title marks a historic achievement for Sen, who became the first Indian men’s singles player to win the Kumamoto Masters Japan since the tournament was introduced in 2023.
The 25-year-old had entered the final after defeating Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan 21-12, 15-21, 21-11 in the semifinals. The win was Sen’s first over Farhan after two previous defeats and helped strengthen his bid for qualification to the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
Sen arrived in Japan on the back of his Hylo Open success, where he defeated Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-17, 21-10 in the final. His latest triumph has further boosted his position in the race for the season-ending World Tour Finals, with the Japan Masters victory moving him into the qualifying positions.
The Indian shuttler had also reached the All England Open final earlier this year, making the Japan Masters victory another significant addition to an increasingly successful 2026 campaign.
