Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen’s dream run at the Paris Olympics came to an end on Sunday as he lost to defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the men’s singles semifinals.
Lakshya Sen, making his Olympic debut, put up a valiant fight but ultimately succumbed to Axelsen’s experience and class, losing 20-22, 14-21 in straight games.
First Game Goes Down to the Wire
In a tight opening game, Axelsen’s height and reach gave him an early advantage, but the young Indian refused to back down.
Despite trailing 9-11 at the mid-game interval, Lakshya Sen fought back brilliantly, engaging Axelsen in long, gruelling rallies.
The drift in the arena affected Axelsen’s shots, allowing Lakshya to stay competitive. Sen wisely opted for safer half-smashes and drop shots, frustrating his opponent.
However, the intense rallies took a toll on Sen, who struggled to catch his breath. He squandered three game points before losing the first game 20-22.
Axelsen Asserts Dominance in Second Game
The second game followed a similar pattern, with both players engaged in lengthy, exhausting rallies. Sen raced to a 7-0 lead, but Axelsen fought back to level the scores at 10-10.
Lakshya Sen edged ahead 11-10 at the break, but Axelsen raised his game in the second half of the game. The Dane overpowered Sen with a flurry of attacks, winning the game 21-14 to seal the match and advance to the final.
Lakshya Sen to Play for Bronze
Despite the loss, Lakshya Sen has etched his name in the history books as the first Indian individual male shuttler to reach the semifinals of the Olympics.
He will now face Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the bronze medal match on Monday, looking to secure India’s first Olympic medal in badminton since Saina Nehwal’s bronze in 2012.
Viktor Axelsen, the world number two, has yet to drop a game in the tournament. He will face Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the final, seeking to defend his Olympic title.
Axelsen’s height, reach, and powerful smashes have been key to his dominant run in Paris.
