What It’s Like Playing at Istora Stadium - Lakshya Sen | Raj Shamani #shorts
Lakshya Sen describes his first senior circuit experience playing at Istora Stadium in Indonesia, known for its intense crowd atmosphere called 'Istora Fever.' He contrasts it with his junior tournament experiences, noting the crowd's passion for badminton was unlike anything he had faced before at the senior level.
Summary
In this short clip from the Raj Shamani podcast, Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen is asked about 'Istora Fever' — a term used to describe the electric atmosphere at Istora Stadium in Indonesia. Sen explains that he has played there multiple times and shares his first-time experience at the venue.
Sen notes that before his first senior circuit appearance at Istora, he had already played tournaments in Indonesia, but those were in the junior category. He also mentions that he had previously performed well at big stadiums with sizable crowds, so he was no stranger to competitive pressure.
However, Sen emphasizes that the senior category crowd at Istora was a completely different experience. He describes the audience as massive and intensely passionate about badminton, noting that the crowd comes specifically to watch the sport with extraordinary enthusiasm — something he had never encountered before at that level.
Key Insights
- Lakshya Sen describes 'Istora Fever' as a widely talked-about phenomenon, suggesting its reputation precedes the actual experience for players who have heard about it before playing there.
- Sen had previously played tournaments in Indonesia before his senior circuit debut there, but only in the junior category, making Istora his first senior-level Indonesian experience.
- Sen highlights his junior world medal as context for his credentials, noting he had already performed well on big stages before facing Istora's senior crowd.
- Despite having played in large stadiums with similar-sized crowds before, Sen emphasizes those prior experiences did not prepare him for the intensity of the senior-level Istora crowd.
- Sen describes the Istora crowd as uniquely 'crazy about badminton,' implying their passion is sport-specific and not just general sports enthusiasm, making it a distinct atmosphere.
Topics
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