Defending champion Lakshya Sen’s title defence lay in tatters after he suffered a narrow defeat against World No.20 Rasmus Gemke of Denmark in a thrilling three-game match at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750 tournament on Thursday.

World No.12 Sen squandered an opening game advantage to go down fighting 21-16, 15-21, 18-21 to Gemke in a second-round match that lasted an hour and 21 minutes at the IG Stadium here.