• durgesh dubey
• 03 Aug, 2024

Lakshya Sen

Lakshya Sen made history at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian man to reach the semi-finals in Olympic badminton. The 22-year-old shuttler from Almora achieved this milestone with a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Taiwan's 12th seed Chou Tien Chen. The packed badminton arena in the French capital erupted in cheers as Sen secured his place in the semi-finals, keeping India's hopes for a badminton medal alive.

Sen, now just one win away from securing a medal in his maiden Olympic appearance, stands as India's lone badminton contender following the quarter-final losses of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in men's doubles, and PV Sindhu in the women's singles Round of 16. His victory over Chou, marked by resilience and determination, came after a straight-game win against compatriot HS Prannoy in the Round of 16, which helped him stay fresh for the 75-minute quarter-final clash.

Lakshya Sen's accomplishment places him alongside Indian badminton legends PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, making him the third Indian overall to reach the semi-finals in Olympic badminton singles. This historic achievement underscores his status as India's primary hope for a badminton medal at the Paris Games. Prior to Sen, Kidambi Srikanth in 2016 and Parupalli Kashyap in 2012 had reached the quarter-finals.

Sen's victory was a testament to his grit and skill, overcoming the aggressive play of the Taiwanese shuttler. The final score read 19-21, 21-15, 21-12, marking Sen's second win in five encounters against Chou. With this win, Lakshya Sen not only advanced to the semi-finals but also continued to carry the hopes and aspirations of Indian badminton on his shoulders.