Teenage Sensation Garret Tan Stuns Home Favorite Lakshya Sen at BWF World Championships
New Delhi, India – In a monumental upset that sent shockwaves through the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, unseeded American prodigy Garret Tan, ranked 92nd in the world, silenced the home crowd and defeated India’s 14th seed and 2021 World Championships bronze medalist, Lakshya Sen, in a thrilling Round of 32 clash. The 18-year-old American emerged victorious after an intense 73-minute battle, with a final score of 19-21, 21-19, 21-17, marking the biggest win of his nascent career.
The dramatic encounter saw both players push their limits. In the decisive third set, with the scoreline tightening, Sen made a desperate lunge for a shuttle barely inches from the net, a last-ditch effort after a grueling match. On the opposing side, Tan reacted with lightning speed, leaping to punch the shuttle back just over the line, securing the match point. The Indian star, in disbelief, pleaded with the umpire, while Tan dropped to his knees in exhilaration before embracing his opponent and then celebrating with his jubilant coach, Lauren Lam.
"I’m still speechless right now. I just can’t believe I’m playing tomorrow," a shell-shocked but elated Garret Tan confessed after the match. He admitted that the vociferous home support for Sen had initially gotten to him in the third set, even when he held a significant lead. However, Tan composed himself, ultimately quieting the partisan crowd with a cross-court smash that brought up match point, which he converted on his first attempt.
The victory showcased not only Tan’s immense talent but also his tactical brilliance. Training in Los Angeles with Taiwanese roots, Tan started playing badminton at eight and made his international debut at 14. He boasts five US junior titles and an impressive record of 108 wins in 150 matches. His growing prowess was evident in his quarter-final finish at the Pan Am Championships earlier this year, as well as strong showings at the US Open, Taipei Open, and Saipan International.
Accompanied by his coach Paula Lynn, whom he considers an elder sister, and his mother, who doubles as his manager, Tan’s success is attributed to his keen curiosity and being "coachable." Lynn emphasized this trait, stating, "A player should be coachable because different coaches can give different opinions and even advice. But I think you need to be coachable as a player and take what are the positive things that you could add to your game and then move forward."
Prior to the match, Lynn and Tan meticulously strategized, considering factors like drift and the "uncontrollable" element of a boisterous crowd. Their plan paid off. Recognizing Sen’s strength in smashes and net play, Tan employed a strategy of pushing shuttles to the backline and utilizing cleverly paced tosses, targeting Sen’s forehand. "We noticed Lakshya is very good at putting a lot of pressure to (bring) Garret in front. So we wanted to, you know, keep him away from the front," Lynn explained.
Even an accidental head injury in the third set, which aggravated a pre-existing condition, couldn’t deter Tan. After a brief medical timeout and a pep talk from his team, he re-focused and powered through to secure the memorable victory.
Having initially booked his return flight for Friday, Tan had been crossing his fingers to extend his debut World Championships campaign. Now, with this incredible upset, he faces an even more formidable challenge: a Round of 16 encounter against the second seed, Kunlavut Vitidsarn. The badminton world will be watching to see if this young American can continue his dream run in New Delhi.
