Indian badminton sensation Lakshya Sen is preparing for a pivotal bronze medal match in men’s singles at the Paris Olympics, where he will compete against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia. At 22 years old, Sen has showcased remarkable skill throughout the tournament, but encountered a significant hurdle in the semi-finals against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen. Although Sen controlled much of the semi-final encounter, he struggled during crucial moments of both games, leading to a close and challenging defeat.
As India’s sole contender for a badminton medal, Sen enters the bronze medal clash with a strong 4-1 head-to-head record against Lee Zii Jia, including a win at the All-England Open earlier this year.
In the semi-final, Sen started strong but lost momentum after leading 7-0 in the second game. He was defeated 20-22, 14-21 by two-time world champion Axelsen in a match lasting approximately 54 minutes. Sen had a promising lead in the first game and a significant advantage in the second but struggled with unforced errors and Axelsen’s comeback.
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Reflecting on his performance, Lakshya Sen said, “I think as the game progressed, especially in the first set, he started attacking more towards the end. I became passive while defending, and I should have taken more chances and attacked.”
Despite facing a higher-ranked opponent, Sen, ranked 22nd globally, matched Axelsen’s intensity for extended periods. He led 15-9 in the first game but fell short as Axelsen made a strong comeback. In the second game, despite starting with a 7-0 lead, Sen could not maintain his advantage as Axelsen advanced to his second consecutive Olympic final.
Lakshya Sen still has the opportunity to make history as the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal in men’s singles. Throughout the Paris Olympics, Sen has defeated notable opponents including Jonatan Christie, HS Prannoy, and Chou Tien-Chen. Notably, Sen overcame Chou Tien-Chen with scores of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.
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