Lakshya Sen took his time to get over the missed bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. But since the second half of 2025, there is a spring in his step. The results have still been up and down, but the performances have picked up. On Thursday, after his second-round win at the India Open Super 750, when asked if he is in a better space than he has been in recent times, he responded with a big smile. “I think everyone agrees to that. Yeah, I’m in a much better space. Definitely, in terms of my game. And I’m enjoying badminton much more, I guess.” Is he doing anything off court that is helping him relax? “I am not going to tell you that,” he added with a chuckle. A lighter, freer Lakshya took time to get going against world No 13 Kenta Nishimoto but a tactical tweak halfway through the opening game turned it around for him as he beat the Japanese 21-19, 21-10 in 50 minutes. On an otherwise bleak day for home …