Lakshya Sen Makes Olympic History as First Indian Male Shuttler to Reach Semifinals

Lakshya Sen's Remarkable Victory Propels Him into the Semifinals at the Paris Olympics 2024

In a historic achievement at the Paris Olympics 2024, Lakshya Sen became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals in the men’s singles badminton competition. Sen triumphed in a thrilling quarterfinal match against Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei with a score of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12, making history for Indian badminton.

Sen's journey to this milestone was marked by resilience and determination. Despite losing the first game, he made a stunning comeback to win the next two games. The 76-minute encounter saw Sen battling through intense rallies and maintaining his composure to secure the victory.

In the first game, Chou took an early lead and maintained his advantage despite Sen's efforts to level the score. However, Sen’s perseverance paid off in the second game. After a tight exchange, he pulled away with a string of five consecutive points, ultimately winning the game 21-15.

The decider saw Sen in top form, opening up a significant lead and dominating the court. His sharp smashes and precise drop shots kept his opponent at bay, leading to a convincing 21-12 victory.

Lakshya Sen’s next challenge will be against the winner of the match between top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Loh Kean Yew of Singapore.

Meanwhile, the women’s singles quarterfinals feature notable matchups, including Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi versus South Korea’s An Se Young, and former World Champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand against Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. China’s He Bing Jiao, who ended PV Sindhu’s campaign, will face her compatriot Chen Yu Fei, while Spain’s Carolina Marin will compete against Japan’s Aya Ohori for a spot in the semifinals.

Sen’s historic performance has garnered widespread acclaim, including praise from India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who lauded Sen’s victory on Instagram. Sen’s tenacity and skill have not only brought him to the semifinals but have also inspired millions of fans back home.

Lakshya Sen’s incredible journey at the Paris Olympics 2024 continues, and all eyes will be on him as he aims to bring home a medal.

Reference:

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