Lakshya Sen Fights for Maiden Olympic Gold in Paris

Paris: Lakshya Sen, one of India’s brightest badminton talents, is on the cusp of history as he gears up for a challenging semifinal clash against reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen at the Paris Games. Having already made a remarkable debut by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the Olympic semifinals, Sen's journey has been nothing short of spectacular.

On Friday, the 22-year-old displayed incredible resilience to overcome Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in a grueling quarterfinal match, winning 19-21, 21-15, 21-12. However, his next opponent, the formidable Viktor Axelsen, poses a daunting challenge. Axelsen, a 30-year-old Dane with an illustrious career, has dominated the sport with an Olympic gold from Tokyo, a bronze from Rio, and two World Championship titles.

Sen, a bronze medalist at the 2021 World Championships, has faced Axelsen eight times, winning only once. However, Sen’s recent victories against higher-ranked opponents like Jonatan Christie and Chou Tien Chen demonstrate his growing confidence and form. While Axelsen has had a subdued season, Sen has never looked fitter and is prepared for the battle ahead.

A win on Sunday could bring India its first Olympic gold in badminton, while a loss would still offer Sen a chance to compete for bronze. As Sen said after his quarterfinal victory, "The real test starts now."