In a historic feat for Indian badminton, the young unseeded Lakshya Sen stormed into the men’s singles semifinals at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Friday. The unseeded Indian displayed remarkable resilience and strength as he overcame a game deficit to defeat 12th-seeded Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling three-setter that concluded 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.
Sen’s triumph marks a watershed moment for Indian badminton, as he becomes the first Indian shuttler to reach the semifinals of the Olympic men’s singles event. Previously, Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth had achieved quarterfinal finishes at London 2012 and Rio 2016, respectively.
“This is a dream come true,” an elated Sen expressed after the match. “I’m thrilled to be in the semifinals, but I know there’s still a lot of work to do. The real test begins now. I’ll focus on recovery and preparation for the next match.”
Lakshya Sen faced a stern challenge from the world No. 11, Chou Tien-chen, who dominated the early exchanges to establish a 5-2 lead. Despite Sen’s flashes of brilliance, Chou maintained a comfortable advantage, eventually clinching the first game 21-19.
Undeterred, Sen fought back strongly in the second game, matching his opponent’s intensity and taking a narrow lead at the interval. He then stepped up the aggression, securing an 18-13 advantage before leveling the match.
The deciding game witnessed Sen’s dominance as he raced to a 9-4 lead. As fatigue began to affect Chou, Sen capitalized on his opponent’s errors to create eight match points, ultimately sealing the victory.
Sen, a world championships bronze medalist, had previously topped his group, defeating world No. 4 Jonatan Christie. He also overcame compatriot HS Prannoy in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals.
The 22-year-old Indian will now face a formidable challenge in the semifinals as he takes on defending champion Victor Axelsen of Denmark on Sunday.
Besides men’s badminton, India boasts a strong legacy in women’s badminton, with two exceptional athletes reaching the pinnacle of Olympic glory. PV Sindhu, a trailblazer, secured a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics and followed it with a bronze at Tokyo 2020, solidifying her status as a badminton icon.
Saina Nehwal, a pioneer, etched her name in history by becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton, securing a bronze at the London 2012 Olympics. Their achievements have been instrumental in inspiring a new generation of badminton players in India and elevating the nation’s standing in the sport.
